Electric vehicle charge points are to turn from ‘eyesores’ into designs ‘as iconic as red telephone boxes’ under new plans by the Department for Transport.
The DfT is looking to award a £200k contract to a design team who can create an “iconic, functional public electric vehicle charge point”.
The government departments aims to create a design that can be used as a guide for local authorities and companies who wish to use it, reports the Telegraph.
A survey last year found that many see EV charging points as eyesores and 1 in 2 people would not want them installed on their street.
Yet charge point rollout needs to accelerate if the government is to hit a target to phase out petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
Former transport minister Sir John Hayes believes the new design project could help EV charge points “become a piece of iconic British street furniture.
“The project will generate excitement of our charge point rollout ambitions and contribute to a sector-wide conversation on good charge point design.”
Mr Hayes pointed to the red telephone box, designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1926.
“The design becomes critical, not only so that it’s recognisable, but also that it’s something people enjoy seeing.”
There are currently around 41,500 individual public electric car charge point connectors in the UK, according to Zap-Map, at 15,400 locations. Around 600 have been added in the past 30 days.
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