UK Drivers given Go-Ahead to Charge Vehicles at Lamp Posts

An electric vehicle charging revolution could be on the horizon as UK Power Networks updates its guidance to allow for the use of lamp posts as charging points.

Research conducted by the distribution network operator for London, the South, and East of England has shown that 5kW chargepoints can be successfully installed on older lamp posts, even those with thinner cabling compared to newer installations.

Working closely with Shell ubitricity, the UK’s largest public charge point operator, UK Power Networks has conducted technical assessments and revised its guidance to provide the energy industry with the confidence needed to implement a widespread rollout of lamp post charging.

This development follows a situation on the South Coast of England where some local authorities were instructed to halt the installation of lamp post chargers on older legacy columns due to different wiring. Typically, local authorities manage and operate streetlights, while distribution network operators like UK Power Networks supply the power to them.

The updated guidance is expected to benefit electric vehicle owners in urban areas where an estimated 60% of residents do not have off-street parking access. It will now allow all 133 local authorities under UK Power Networks’ jurisdiction to connect faster 5kW chargepoints to their lamp posts.

Furthermore, local authorities can proceed with their plans to expand charging infrastructure through the government’s Local EV Infrastructure Fund. ubitricity estimates internally that with a budget of £1m, local authorities could deploy 700-800 lamp post chargers, a significant increase compared to just 60-75 Fast Dual charge points (7-22kW) or 20-25 Rapid Single charge points.

The UK government’s electric vehicle infrastructure strategy outlines the need for between 300,000 and 700,000 public chargepoints by 2030 to accommodate the projected 10 million electric vehicles expected to be on the country’s roads.

Mark Adolphus, director of Connections at UK Power Networks, expressed enthusiasm about the new developments, stating, “This is fantastic news for customers and paves the way for a wide array of new electric vehicle charging stations across our region. It underscores the importance of collaboration between networks and the broader energy industry to ensure successful delivery with confidence and certainty.”

Stuart Wilson, Market Unit Lead at ubitricity, highlighted the benefits of lamp post charging for local authorities and EV drivers, explaining, “Lamp post charging enables local authorities to scale up charging infrastructure and allows EV drivers to conveniently charge their cars close to home. With over 8 million households in the UK lacking off-street parking access, the expansion of public EV charging infrastructure is crucial to ensuring that all residents can participate in the transition to electric vehicles. This development is a positive step for EV drivers, and we are proud to have collaborated with UK Power Networks on this guidance.”