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

author: FutureCar Staff    

Vauxhall has launched the 'Electric Streets of Britain' program to address the lack of residential on-street EV charging infrastructure. A recent freedom of information request made by Vauxhall found that 70% of local authorities in the UK have no strategy in place for on-street EV charging. This poses a significant barrier to the adoption of electric vehicles, 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. The data revealed 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 to these findings, Vauxhall aims to ensure that homes without driveways are not left behind in the transition to zero-emission motoring.

To address this issue, 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 gain a better understanding of the demand for on-street charging among 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 the scale of on-street charging issues and the available solutions.

The importance of on-street charging is highlighted by the fact that 80% of all EV charging is done at home. In urban areas, the percentage of homes without off-street parking rises to 60%. Vauxhall suggests solutions such as lamp post chargers, which can be quickly installed and operational within 30 minutes, and pavement-mounted bollards.

James Taylor, Managing Director of Vauxhall, emphasizes the critical role of accessible charge points near homes in the transition to electric vehicle ownership. Vauxhall aims to collaborate with the public, councils, and charging operators to ensure that everyone, particularly those without a driveway, can participate in this journey. The company aims to educate decision-makers and facilitate the installation of more chargers at a faster pace.

On-street charging infrastructure will not only benefit private motorists but also support businesses in adopting electric vehicles. Approximately four in 10 company-owned electric vans are charged at home by employees. Therefore, the widespread availability of on-street charge points will enable van drivers to conveniently top up their vehicles both at home and at destination chargers when attending residential jobs.

FutureCar Staff