Boosting residential on-street EV charging with Vauxhall's new initiative

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【Summary】Vauxhall has launched the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program to address the lack of on-street EV charging options in the UK. A freedom of information request found that 70% of local authorities have no strategy for residential on-street charging. Vauxhall aims to ensure that homes without driveways are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicles by establishing a national database for residents to register their charging needs.

FutureCar Staff Aug 16, 2023 6:28 AM PT

Boosting residential on-street EV charging with Vauxhall's new initiative

Vauxhall has launched the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program in response to a freedom of information request that revealed seven out of ten local authorities in the UK have no strategy in place for residential on-street EV charging. This poses a significant barrier to EV adoption, as 40% of homes in the country do not have a driveway or garage for charging.

The FOI request received 289 responses from the 414 UK councils approached, and it was found that 69% of them have yet to install any on-street chargers. Additionally, 45% confirmed they have no plans to install residential on-street chargers this year.

In order to address this issue, Vauxhall has set up the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program. The program includes a national database where the public can register their needs for on-street charging, allowing councils to better understand the demand for charging infrastructure.

Vauxhall is working with charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb, and SureCharge to establish an 'Enablement Fund' that helps councils understand the scale of on-street charging issues and the available solutions. This initiative aims to ensure that homes without driveways are not left behind in the transition to zero-emission motoring.

The importance of on-street charging is highlighted by the fact that 80% of all EV charging takes place at home. In urban areas, where 60% of homes lack off-street parking, on-street charging becomes even more crucial. Vauxhall suggests solutions such as lamp post chargers and pavement-mounted bollards, which can be installed quickly and easily.

James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, emphasizes the need for accessibility to charge points near homes in order to facilitate the transition to electric vehicle ownership in the UK. Vauxhall aims to collaborate with the public, councils, and charging operators to educate decision-makers and accelerate the installation of more chargers.

On-street charging not only benefits private motorists but also has implications for businesses. It is estimated that four in ten company-owned electric vans are charged at home by employees. Therefore, the widespread availability of charge points will support businesses in going electric by enabling van drivers to conveniently charge both at home and at destination chargers when attending residential jobs.