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Chelsea drivers to plug electric cars into lamp posts

London’s Kensington and Chelsea Council has partnered with energy technology company OVO and Berlin firm Ubitricity to install electric car charging points in the borough’s lamp posts.

The technology was trialled by the council earlier this year and is now being expanded with 50 new ‘SimpleSockets" in the central London area.

According to research commissioned by OVO, half of Londoners are put off from buying an electric vehicle due to a lack of charging facilities.

SimpleSockets will be located next to pay and display parking bays, available for use 24 hours a day with a tariff of £0.15 per kwh of electricity. 

The councillor in charge, Gerard Hargreaves, said: "There is growing demand for charging facilities and a growing number of electric vehicles in Kensington and Chelsea. 

"Most residents do not have access to off-street parking to charge an electric vehicle.

"Retro-fitting street lamps with charging technology allows drivers to conveniently charge their vehicles closer to home, while helping to tackle air pollution in London.

"Lamp post charging is also more cost-effective and much less obtrusive as the charging points require no additional street furniture."

Installation of the charging stations will begin this month, with 50 planned to be completed by January 2018. 

Images courtesy of OVO

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Comments

  1. Excellent news I wonder if Scotland will catch on. We can but hope

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