Vauxhall's plan to accelerate residential on-street EV charging

author: FutureCar Staff    

Vauxhall has launched an initiative to address the lack of residential on-street EV charging in the UK. A freedom of information request made by Vauxhall revealed that 70% of local authorities have no strategy in place for on-street EV charging. This poses a significant barrier to EV adoption, as 40% of homes in the UK do not have a driveway or garage for charging.

The FOI request received responses from 289 out of 414 UK councils and local authorities. It found that 69% of them have not installed any on-street chargers, and 45% have no plans to install residential on-street chargers this year. In response, Vauxhall has launched the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program to ensure that homes without driveways are not left behind in the transition to zero-emission motoring.

Vauxhall has created a national database at www.electricstreets.co.uk where the public can register their need for on-street charging. This will help councils understand the demand for on-street charging and cater to the needs of existing and potential EV drivers. Vauxhall is also working with charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb, and SureCharge to establish an 'Enablement Fund' that will assist councils in understanding on-street charging issues and available solutions.

On-street charging is crucial as 80% of all EV charging is done at home. In urban areas, where 60% of homes lack off-street parking, the importance of on-street charging is even greater. 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. He states that the initiative aims to involve the public, councils, and charging operators to ensure that everyone, including those without a driveway, can be part of the transition to electric vehicles. The goal is to educate decision-makers and facilitate the installation of more chargers.

In addition to benefiting private motorists, on-street charging will also support businesses. Around 40% of company-owned electric vans are charged at home by employees. Therefore, widespread availability of charge points will enable van drivers to conveniently charge their vehicles both at home and at destination chargers when attending residential jobs.

FutureCar Staff