Street-light EV charge points installed in Hammersmith

Hammersmith & Fulham council in West London has installed the first street-light electric car charging points in the borough, which aims to make electric vehicle charging easier for residents.

Five sockets have been installed by mobile power specialist Ubitricity, with the free to use sockets now in place at Westcroft Square, Hammersmith.

(l-r): Cllr Wesley Harcourt, James Everley, Cllr Stephen Cowan and car owner Marcela Kelly

Unlike other charging points, which may require the installation of new street furniture, these use the power source supplied to existing street lights, and therefore require no planning permission.

The sockets were installed in a single day, according to the council.

Infrastructure

Cllr Stephen Cowan leader of Hammersmith & Fulham council said: “We are determined to be the greenest borough in the country, and with more electric car charging points in H&F than anywhere else, we are really playing our part in cutting fossil fuel emissions.

“These free at the point of delivery charging points are easy and quick to set-up, cost the borough nothing to install, and may go on to produce steady revenue for the council, while delivering value ‘fuel’ for the new breed of clean and green vehicles.”

Hammersmith & Fulham council is hoping to install 250 electric vehicle charging points by 2018.

Knut Hechtfischer, founder of Ubitricity, said: “These SimpleSockets have been designed to fit into even the smallest residential street lights, delivering electric vehicle charging points right where residents most want to charge, outside their home. Utilising more of what is already there, the humble street light, keeps costs down and allows rapid deployment.

“We’re delighted to be working with Hammersmith & Fulham Council to bring charging points to their residents and helping the borough in its aspirations to be as green as possible.”