Southwark council is working with electric vehicle charging company char.gy, to install 50 public-use charging points for electric vehicles in lampposts in Borough & Bankside and Dulwich, writes John Cowley…
Char.gy specialises in supplying electric vehicle charging points in residential areas and will provide the technology behind the lampposts and manage the payment process.
Drivers of electric vehicles will be able to charge their cars at the high tech lampposts using the char.gy app which offers both monthly subscription services and a pay-as-you-go option.
Lamp post charging points offer advantages to other electric vehicle charging options.
The technology means that the charging points can be moved around based on demand, and because they are connected to lampposts, do not require extra infrastructure.
Richard Stobart, CEO of char.gy said: “char.gy offers easy, affordable, open-access EV charging without the need to dig-up residential streets across Southwark to lay additional cables or add on-street electricity cabinets.”
The initiative received £300,000 in funding from City Hall’s Go Ultra Low City Scheme, which aims to improve air quality across the capital.
Cllr Julian Bell, Chair of London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee and Chair of the GULCS steering group said: “I look forward to seeing more charging points installed across Southwark and other London boroughs as part of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme, which aims to encourage the switch to electric vehicles to help clean up London’s air.”
Residents were consulted before the project began, and the Southwark council plans to continue the roll out to other areas where residents have requested them.
Cllr Richard Livingstone, Cabinet Member for environment, transport management and air quality, said: “These electric vehicle charge points are being installed in residential streets, outside people’s homes, in response to feedback from our residents.
“We want to help people to make decisions that improve air quality here in Southwark, be that by walking, cycling and taking public transport, or by using clean fuel. These new charge points are making it easier than ever for people who live in Southwark to make the switch to electric vehicles.”
Residents can find out more about lamp post charge points, and register their interest in having a charge point outside their homes, at www.southwark.gov.uk/evcharge