BT revives ‘green box’ as EV charger.

The BT Group has recently unveiled its first electric vehicle (EV) charge point, repurposed from one of the company’s old street cabinets. Installed in East Lothian by Etc, the group’s start-up incubation hub, this innovative charger is set to revolutionise the accessibility of EV charging for local residents.

This new charging point can be accessed for free until the end of May by simply downloading an app from the App Store or Google Play Store. It is designed to cater to both cars and vans, making it a versatile and valuable resource for the community.

What makes this initiative particularly noteworthy is that it marks the beginning of a UK-wide trial aimed at converting former BT ‘green boxes’ into charge points. With just over 5,000 operational public electric vehicle chargers in Scotland, the potential for leveraging the approximately 4,800 street cabinets across the nation for upgrading presents an exciting opportunity to meet the growing demand for charging infrastructure.

Speaking about this groundbreaking project, Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Government Transport Secretary, expressed her excitement stating, “This is an exciting and innovative development in the provision of electric vehicle charging. I’m really pleased that the first trial in the UK is taking place in East Lothian.”

Highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting the shift towards electric vehicles, she emphasised the need for private sector involvement to complement the significant public investment in the EV charging network thus far. This partnership between BT Group and local councils reflects a collaborative approach essential for fostering sustainable transport choices.

Tom Guy, managing director of Etc at BT Group, underscored the importance of addressing the challenges faced by petrol and diesel drivers when considering the switch to electric vehicles. He stated, “Our research shows that 78% of petrol and diesel drivers see not being able to conveniently charge an EV as a key barrier to purchasing one. We want this to change.”

Recognising the critical role of reimagining existing infrastructure to drive innovation and support government sustainability targets, Guy expressed pride in collaborating with local councils to repurpose street cabinets for EV charging solutions. The upcoming focus on West Yorkshire and the ambitious plan to expand the trial to 600 sites across the UK signify BT Group’s commitment to spearheading the transition to electrification.

Traditionally utilised for storing broadband and phone cabling, the street cabinets now hold the promise of delivering on-street charging solutions without the need for creating new power connections. Throughout the pilot phase, BT Group will evaluate various aspects including the digital customer experience, engineering and technology choices, operational procedures, and commercial viability.

A key feature of the initiative is the user-friendly app developed by BT Group in consultation with EV drivers. This app offers real-time information on price, availability, and charge speed, enabling users to start, stop, and monitor charge sessions efficiently. It also allows filtering by connector type, kW speed, and charging network, catering to diverse user preferences.

Moreover, electric vehicle drivers can sync their EV with the app to access live updates on battery levels, estimated costs, charge times, and a convenient overview of charging history. This seamless integration enhances the overall charging experience, making it more convenient and accessible for users.