Thu, 16 Jan 2025

BT scraps EV charging point scheme having only installed one

It hoped to turn 60,000 roadside green cabinets into chargers - but now says it will focus on wifi instead.
BT has scrapped its plan to convert 60,000 green street cabinets into electric vehicle charging points after completing only one conversion in East Lothian. The project was aimed at addressing a key barrier to people switching from petrol and diesel cars to EVs, but it will now focus on improving Wi-Fi connectivity around EV charging points instead. Industry experts say the decision is a setback for the UK's transition to electric vehicles, especially as most public charging points are concentrated in busier areas rather than near homes. However, BT has pledged to improve Wi-Fi infrastructure around EV charging points to address a major issue: slow or non-existent internet connections when trying to charge an EV. Many green cabinets are nearing the end of their lifespan as BT upgrades to fibre broadband, but only one was actually converted into a public charging point in East Lothian. The charger is currently out of order and will close in February. The UK government has set a target of 300,000 public charging points by 2030, with 73,334 already installed - a 37% increase from last year. However, the industry has voiced concerns about the speed of this transition, with many arguing that more financial incentives are needed to encourage people to switch to EVs.
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