The BT Group (British Telecommunications) has achieved a milestone by installing its first electric vehicle (EV) charging station powered from a street cabinet. The company aims to install 600 such locations on a trial basis as part of its efforts to drive innovation and support the transition to electrification in the UK.
Located in East Lothian, Scotland, BT’s first EV charger is already operational, with plans to focus on West Yorkshire for the next installation. The charger, featuring two charging points, requires EV drivers to download a trial app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Charging is free for local residents until the end of the month.
Tom Guy, Managing Director at Etc. and BT Group, highlighted the importance of convenient charging infrastructure in accelerating EV adoption, stating, “With our research showing that 78% of petrol and diesel drivers see not being able to conveniently charge an EV as a key a barrier to purchasing one, and the UK behind government-set sustainability targets, it’s critical that we start looking at existing infrastructure to drive innovation at speed.”
The BT Group’s initiative utilizes its network of 60,000 street cabinets, which were initially used for broadband and telephone cables. In January, the company announced plans to convert these distribution boxes into EV charging points. The cabinets are retrofitted with a charging station using a device that enables renewable energy to be shared alongside the existing broadband service, without the need for a new power connection.
