With the UK government aiming to phase out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, the transition to electric vehicles is naturally picking up pace. However, the strength of our charging infrastructure remains an issue.
Current estimates suggest there are now over 80,000[i] charging points across the country. London leads the way in this respect with other key cities including Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow rapidly catching up. Many of these charging stations, however, are concentrated in supermarket carparks, motorway service areas and other commercial centres. New-build housing developments increasingly feature charging functionality too but the availability of at-home charging for most remains problematic – especially in the absence of a driveway.
Simply, the absence of a viable home charging option makes the switch to electric vehicles impossible for many UK drivers.
This is where kerbside charging may be the missing link – not only in increasing the overall availability of EV charging facilities, but also in increasing fairness and accessibility.
Kerbside charging, where EV charge points are integrated into lamp posts, bollards or dedicated on-street units, is becoming a common feature of many London residential streets but for fairness and accessibility to be truly realised, this needs to be replicated on residential streets the length and breadth of the UK.
To address this, the UK government has launched the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) funding scheme which supports local authorities across England to plan and deliver charging infrastructure for residents without off-street parking.
At ADS Laser Cutting, we’re proud to work with several kerbside charging providers and have witnessed a growing momentum in kerbside charging being rolled out, but for this to fully meet the needs of a growing population of EV drivers, more needs to be done.
Kerbside charging must be prioritised. It doesn’t need to be unsightly or obtrusive and above all, it can no-longer be seen as a ‘nice to have’ – it’s a vital part of the UK’s transition to become an EV driving nation.