EV chargers could go in kerbs and lamp-posts

Experts predict that half the vehicles on the road will be electric by 2023, councillors heard

Charging points for electric vehicles in Coventry could soon be found in kerb stones, lamp-posts and in pavements, if pilot schemes across the city are successful.

Councillors have been briefed on a 10-year strategy on electric vehicle (EV) charging, with experts predicting that by 2035, half the vehicles on the road will be electric.

Senior council officer Rosie Coyle told the business, economy and enterprise scrutiny board that Coventry was already well-served with more than 2,000 charging points available to the public.

Pilot schemes under way include seven homes where drivers had a charge point installed in their house, with cables set into the pavement in what resembled a drainage channel.

Ms Coyle said such a scheme allowed people to use their home electricity rate, which was cheaper than a public charge point.

Some pilots have included fitting a charge point in a metal kerb stone. Others have been installed in lamp-posts or in a footpath.

The meeting heard concerns from Councillor John McNicholas that electric charging points took up valuable parking spaces. He said there were three or four spaces he had never seen used.

"There will be other examples of unnecessary provision because the emphasis should be home charging," he said.

A meeting heard Coventry was well-served with more than 2,000 charging points

John Seddon, the council's lead for policy and innovation, said the decision at the start of the programme was to install charging equipment but not to restrict spaces to electric vehicles.

He said: "We are coming under pressure from some people to change that because we are getting situations where EV car users cannot use the charge points because other people are parking in it."

He said parking restrictions had been put on some city centre chargers, but added: "The majority of the chargers that are not in car parks or rapid chargers have no parking order, so anyone can park there."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.