In a move towards sustainable transportation infrastructure, BT group unveiled a new EV charging point in East Lothian, powered by repurposed green street cabinets. The installation, situated in Haddington, marks the inaugural phase of a nationwide initiative aimed at converting BT Group-owned cabinets into EV charging points across the UK.

The initiative, spearheaded by BT Group’s start-up incubation hub, says it will address the scarcity of public EV charging points. To do this, the company repurposed traditional broadband and phone cabling cabinets into accessible charge points, envisioning a greener future for transportation.

“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,” said Tom Guy, managing director, Etc. at BT Group

The East Lothian charger will be available free of charge for a limited time as part of a pilot program. Users can access the charge point via a trial app downloadable from the App Store or Google Play Store. The app, developed in consultation with EV drivers, offers features such as real-time price and availability updates, charge session monitoring, and insights into charging networks.

BT Group plans to leverage existing infrastructure to accelerate EV adoption. With up to 4,800 street cabinets identified for potential upgrades in Scotland alone, the initiative aligns with the country’s ambitious goals for sustainable transportation.

“This government is committed to supporting people to make the switch from petrol and diesel vehicles, and our vision for Scotland’s future public EV charging network highlights the need for private sector finance and delivery to build on our significant investment in the network to date,” said Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for Transport at Scottish Government.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing more partnership working like this as we continue to help people in Scotland to make greener transport choices.”

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Norman Hampshire, East Lothian council leader commented on the development, saying: “We are pleased that BT Group is supplementing the wide range of public chargers in East Lothian as this allows the Council to focus on its public service role of providing charging options in areas less attractive to commercial operators. Use of electric vehicles supports the council’s ambitions to reduce emissions, promote sustainable travel solutions and enhance the local environment.”

Looking ahead, BT Group plans to expand its EV charging trials to West Yorkshire, with aspirations to deploy up to 600 sites nationwide.