Scotland is to become part of a new UK-first Agile Streets project to test kerbside smart charging points.

The project will see 24 points located in East Lothian and Glasgow that will provide a roadside place for EV’s to recharge on journeys.

Currently, the electric charging infrastructure in the UK is unsuitable and is putting road users off from adopting electric vehicles.

As EV uptake improves as we move towards a net-zero future, users will require more efficient and intuitive charge points.

Currently, registrations for EV vehicles has seen an increase of up to 139% in 2021 compared to last year, with a 72% boost in Glasgow alone.

The Connected Kerb project is aiming to save hundreds of pounds per year for EV users and support the move to net-zero.

In the UK right now, around 40% of road users have no access to off-street EV charging options, highlighting a “critical need” for on-street residential infrastructure according to a recent report commissioned by the UK Government.

In July, the government was urged to increase the number of electric vehicle charge points across the country as new data revealed poor availability outside of London.

Research showed that, at present, the UK has around 25,000 charge points. However, forecasts suggest that the country will require ten times this amount by 2030.

Commenting on the project, Connected Kerb CEO Chris Pateman-Jones said: “Easy access to affordable charging infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to the uptake of EVs.

“The number of smart energy tariffs has exploded in recent years thanks to increasing demand from EV owners, making charging at home one of the most affordable ways to travel today.

“However, almost half of us don’t have that privilege and instead rely on public charging infrastructure which is often more expensive.

“It is vital that access to affordable energy is equitable across the entire population – driveway or not – and this project does just that, giving drivers in Glasgow and East Lothian without off-street parking the same benefits as everyone else.”

Recommended

• The UK reaching its 2050 net-zero goal? Not without a battery tech strategy
• Britain’s electric car charging network is in need of an overhaul
• £2m investment to support roll-out of electric vehicle charging network

In a release, Connected Kerb announced that trials will run from late October 2021 until May 2022, “giving hundreds of local drivers the opportunity to benefit” from the new charging points.

On completion of the trial, the firm said the 100 chargers, also located in Shropshire and Hackney, will be handed over to the local councils to continue providing on-street EV charging infrastructure for future use.

Smart metering allows EVs to schedule charging at times when energy prices are cheapest, such as overnight when demand is low or on sunny and windy days when there is an abundance of supply due to additional solar and wind energy. This reduces emissions and keeps costs low for drivers.

Norman Hampshire, the environment spokesman for East Lothian Council, said: “Providing equal access to affordable electric vehicle charging across the region is a key part of our plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 or earlier.

“This scheme offers a great opportunity for local businesses and residents to have access to charging infrastructure that could save them hundreds of pounds every year.

“Not only is this crucial as we move closer to the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars, but it means that the county can play its part in the green revolution.”