BT Group plans to repurpose street cabinets as EV chargers

This marks the beginning of a series of technical trials aimed at transforming up to 60,000 cabinets as part of efforts to meet government sustainability goals and contribute to the decarbonisation of the UK's transport system.

This initiative seeks to address the challenges in EV charging infrastructure by creatively using existing street infrastructure. The trials will assess the feasibility of scaling this solution to help alleviate the shortage of chargers on UK roads. BT Group’s research indicates that 38% of people would already own an EV if charging was more accessible, a significant consideration given the current count of 53,000 public EV charge points in the UK. This pilot is a vital stride towards achieving net-zero emissions.

The first installation by Etc. is set up in East Lothian, Scotland, with plans to extend these trials across the UK in the near future.

The UK Government's objective is to expand the number of charge points from 53,000 to 300,000 by 2030. However, access to charging remains a substantial hurdle in EV adoption. BT Group's research reveals that 60% of the population views the UK's EV charging infrastructure as insufficient, with 78% of petrol and diesel car owners citing the inconvenience of EV charging as a deterrent.

The trials conducted by Etc. will evaluate various aspects crucial to launching this EV charge point network, including technical considerations like cabinet location and power availability, civil planning involving local council engagement, commercial aspects such as funding and investment options, and operational strategies, whether as a standalone BT Group venture or in collaboration with other entities.

This innovative project has garnered international acclaim, being honoured as an Innovation Honouree at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 for exceptional design and engineering.

The charging units operate by retrofitting existing cabinets with a device that allows renewable energy to power a charge point alongside the current broadband service, without necessitating a new power connection. These can be installed in cabinets currently used for broadband services or those being phased out, depending on space and power availability. As full fibre broadband rollout progresses, redundant broadband equipment is recycled, making room for more EV charge points, and leveraging existing infrastructure to rapidly expand charging options.

While the pilot is UK-focused, the challenge of EV charging infrastructure is global. For instance, the US currently has only 160,000 public EV chargers to cater to over 2.4 million electric vehicles.

Tom Guy, Managing Director of Etc. at BT Group, commented: “Our new charging solution is a huge step in bringing EV charging kerbside and exploring how we can address key barriers customers are currently facing. Working closely with local councils in Scotland and more widely across the UK, we are at a critical stage of our journey in tackling a very real customer problem that sits at the heart of our wider purpose to connect for good.

“This is a key step in our mission to build products and services right now that work for the future, with positive transformation at the heart.”

Dunstan Power, Director of Versinetic, has said this about the news: "At Versinetic, we recognise the necessity of a robust and widespread charging network to support the transition to electric vehicles, and this project, though commendable, underscores the need for more direct and substantial action from governmental bodies.

"The reliance on private sector ingenuity to fill gaps in the charging infrastructure, while valuable, should not overshadow the government's role in spearheading and accelerating the development of such essential services.

"The current pace and scale of the rollout, as evidenced by the need for such stopgap solutions, suggest a shortfall in addressing the urgency of the EV revolution. It's imperative for the government to take more decisive and ambitious steps to ensure that the UK's charging network meets the growing demand and supports the country's environmental goals."