BT in Britain to Convert Street Cabinets into Electric Vehicle Charging Points
BT, the UK's largest telecommunications company, plans to repurpose its street cabinets, traditionally used for cables, into electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.
The first charging point will be set up in a cabinet in East Lothian, Scotland, with additional trials planned across the UK. This initiative may pave the way for 60,000 new charging points.
The move comes as BT's research identified that the lack of accessible chargers is preventing 38% of motorists from switching to EVs, with the UK having just 53,906 charging points at present. The government aims to boost this figure to 300,000 by the 2030s.
Tom Guy, of BT's start-up division, noted that this innovation targets significant obstacles that discourage EV adoption, aligning with BT's commitment to positive societal impact.
The conversion of these cabinets will incorporate charging stations without requiring new power connections. They will be fitted into existing broadband cabinets, including those slated for phase-out, based on each site's capacity and power capabilities.
The move comes as BT's research identified that the lack of accessible chargers is preventing 38% of motorists from switching to EVs, with the UK having just 53,906 charging points at present. The government aims to boost this figure to 300,000 by the 2030s.
Tom Guy, of BT's start-up division, noted that this innovation targets significant obstacles that discourage EV adoption, aligning with BT's commitment to positive societal impact.
The conversion of these cabinets will incorporate charging stations without requiring new power connections. They will be fitted into existing broadband cabinets, including those slated for phase-out, based on each site's capacity and power capabilities.