The Rising Call for Street EV Chargers
Residents from over 11,500 residential streets in the UK are voicing their demand for on-street local authority-installed Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points. This public outcry stems from the “Electric Streets of Britain” initiative started by Vauxhall in 2023. The campaign, aimed at accelerating EV adoption and addressing charging infrastructure challenges across the country, has successfully gathered 13,000 public registrations.
A Collaborative Approach to EV Infrastructure
Vauxhall, in partnership with chargepoint operators charg.y, ConnectedKerb, and Surecharge, are using the public data collected to strategise with local councils nationwide. The goal is to design timely and effective EV charging infrastructure plans that cater to the needs of local residents.
The Challenge Ahead
Despite significant public interest and awareness, a staggering 56.5% of local authorities have yet to publish a comprehensive on-street residential charging strategy, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request filed by Vauxhall. Although this indicates an improvement of 15% since 2023, it also underscores the urgency for accessible charging solutions to match the steadily growing EV demand.
Uneven Distribution of Infrastructure
The demand map released under the “Electric Streets of Britain” campaign illustrates a stark disparity in EV readiness across regions. The North of England, for instance, shows a higher number of registered charging needs compared to the South, with Leeds, Glasgow, and Sheffield leading the charge.
The On-Street Charging Situation Today
The councils that responded to Vauxhall’s FOI request reported having over 15,000 on-street chargers currently installed, with plans to add another 8,000 in the upcoming year. However, this concentrated infrastructure seems to favour the capital over other regions in the UK, emphasising the need for a more evenly distributed national strategy.
Acknowledging and Addressing Diverse Charging Needs
In addition to addressing public calls for on-street chargers, Vauxhall’s campaign highlights the need to consider the charging needs of disabled drivers. Presently, a mere 2.3% of the UK’s on-street EV chargers are accessible to disabled motorists.
Looking to the Road Ahead
As the campaign continues, Vauxhall promises an entirely electric version of every car and van in their line-up by the end of 2024. As the UK’s top-selling electric van manufacturer in 2023, Vauxhall’s electronic Corsa and electronic Mokka have also led sales in their respective categories last year.
Local Authorities with Most Public Demand for On-Street EV Charging
- Leeds: 182 registrations
- Birmingham: 178 registrations
- Glasgow City: 168 registrations
- Liverpool: 155 registrations
- Bristol, City of: 154 registrations
- County Durham: 150 registrations
- Wirral: 137 registrations
- Sheffield: 131 registrations
- City of Edinburgh: 119 registrations
- Cardiff: 117 registrations
