UK Councils Roll Out 500 EV Chargers for City Dwellers

The London Borough of Harrow is set to install 500 curb-side electric vehicle (EV) chargers by October 2028, with over half already operational. This expansion targets urban residents who lack driveways or suitable off-street parking, making home wall-box installations impossible.

Many EV owners struggle with charging due to restrictions like shared car parks or no off-street space. Relying on public fast-charging networks can be significantly more expensive than home charging, sometimes exceeding £1 per kW. This makes EV ownership less appealing and potentially more costly than traditional combustion engine vehicles.

Slower, cheaper overnight charging solutions, like those provided by Char.gy, are emerging as a key solution. These lamppost-mounted chargers offer rates around 39p per kW overnight, a substantial saving compared to public fast chargers. Despite this progress, many UK councils have yet to install on-street chargers or have no immediate plans to do so.

Grid infrastructure remains a significant bottleneck, with many urban distribution networks not designed for widespread overnight EV charging. Reinforcing these networks requires time and capital investment. Innovative solutions like Trojan Energy's 'flat and flush' sidewalk chargers are also being developed to address these challenges.

Similar issues are seen in North America, where a third of households in multi-unit buildings lack easy charging access. Companies like Beam Global and Gravity are exploring solar and wind-integrated charging solutions and overhead high-powered chargers, respectively, while Voltpost and EVgo are also active in the space.