BT has decided to abandon its plans to convert roadside green cabinets into electric car chargers following a successful trial run. The telecommunications company had been exploring the possibility of using existing electrical connections in these cabinets, which typically house phone and internet equipment, to quickly install charging points. However, according to Fast Charge, a charging newsletter, BT is now shutting down its only charging point in East Lothian, Scotland.
Back in 2023, BT had announced that around 60,000 out of a total of 90,000 cabinets could potentially be used as car chargers. This project could have significantly contributed to the UK government’s goal of installing 300,000 public chargers to support the increasing number of electric vehicles on the country’s roads.
The number of public chargers in the UK has been growing rapidly each year, with a record 19,600 units installed in 2024, increasing the total count by one-third compared to the previous year. However, this growth has been hindered by government funding delays and financial challenges faced by charging point operators.
BT’s scheme, managed by digital startup Etc, aimed to avoid the need for new power grid connections, a major hurdle for charger companies. In the pilot installation, the car was connected to a separate post located a few feet away from the cabinet, rather than directly to the cabinet itself.
BT has been a vocal supporter of the shift towards electric vehicles. In November, Clive Selly, CEO of BT’s broadband subsidiary Openreach, urged the government to enforce the zero-emission vehicle mandate, which would incentivize car manufacturers to increase their production of electric cars annually.
A spokesperson for BT Group stated that the company had conducted extensive tests to understand the challenges faced by on-road EV drivers when it comes to charging and where BT Group could offer the most support to the UK EV ecosystem. “We have considered our options,” the spokesperson said.
Instead of pursuing the electric car charger project, BT will now focus on providing “Wi-Fi connectivity” from the cabinets, as per their announcement.
Source: www.theguardian.com
