Iconic chargers planned

25 August 2021

There’s been much debate about the need to improve the infrastructure for charging electric vehicles  (EVs) and for greater standardisation. 

The Government has now appointed the Royal College of Art (RCA) and a business consultancy, PA Consulting, to design a charge point that has a standard, distinctive design. 

The brief is for a configuration that is both functional and accessible for all users, and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps sees the initiative as being very much symbolic of the drive towards sustainability. 

“Excellent design plays a key role in supporting our transition to zero emission vehicles, which is why I want to see EV charge points that are as iconic and recognisable as the British phone box, London bus or black cab.

“The rollout will allow charge points to be more recognisable for drivers, helping to create awareness around the transition to EVs,” he continued.

The design will be unveiled at the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow this November and the government says it could be seen on streets across the country from 2022. 

It adds that statistics from the location software firm Zap Map show there are now over 25,000 public charging devices across the UK. However, as several previous posts on the blog have suggested, drivers need to be sure that they are easy to use, well maintained and fast in operation. 

If the eventual design makes charge points easier to locate and use, it will be a positive development. However, unlike typical red phone boxes of yesteryear, surely multiple installations will be needed in each location to accommodate the many drivers who will need them. 

And, sadly, they’ll need to be vandal-resistant. 

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