BT innovative approach to electric vehicle charging

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【Summary】BT is conducting trials to convert its street cabinets into electric vehicle charging points in order to assess the feasibility of expanding EV charging infrastructure. The move repurposes cabinets currently used for phone and internet services and addresses the lack of charging points in the UK. Challenges include location, planning, and charging issues. BT aims to achieve net zero in its operations by 2031 and in its supply chain by 2041.

FutureCar Staff Aug 17, 2023 9:43 AM PT

BT innovative approach to electric vehicle charging

BT has announced plans to convert its street cabinets into electric vehicle (EV) charging points in a bid to expand the charging infrastructure across the UK. The company aims to repurpose the cabinets currently used for phone and internet services, which will no longer be needed as the country transitions to full-fibre communications. The goal of the pilots is to assess the feasibility of this initiative and address the challenges associated with location, planning, and charging issues.

One of the challenges is finding suitable locations for the charging points. While having a charging point in front of one's house may be convenient, it could pose problems if parking is already occupied by another vehicle. Moreover, the installation of charging points would require engineering works and could cause further disruption, which may be frustrating for people already dealing with the inconvenience of fibre roll-out.

Despite the challenges, BT should be commended for its innovative approach in repurposing existing infrastructure to meet its net zero goals. The company aims to achieve net zero emissions in its own operations by March 2031 and in its supply chain by March 2041. BT is already committed to using 100% renewable electricity.

In addition to addressing the lack of EV charging points, this trial could provide a solution for the mass of terraced housing in the UK, particularly those dating back to the Victorian and Edwardian eras, where off-road parking is often unavailable for household charging.

Rob Pritchard, a principal analyst at GlobalData, highlighted the importance of expanding the charging infrastructure in line with the government's goal of increasing the number of charging points from 45,000 to 300,000 by 2030. This expansion is crucial to support the ban on sales of new vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and alleviate range anxiety, a concern for potential EV buyers.