A contract to supply up to 7,000 electric car chargers for residential streets, public parking lots and community facilities in West Sussex was announced today.
The British company says it is well on the way to installing 190,000 street chargers across the UK between now and 2030, the date when sales of new internal combustion-only cars will be banned. This is a respectable number, but only a tenth of the total number of public charging points required by the auto industry, although the government’s competition and market surveillance authority specifies the maximum requirement for a more achievable 480,000 by 2030.
Connected Curb specializes in a type of charging infrastructure that is durable, affordable and reliable. Most of the technology is located under the street as a one-off passive installation to which an increasing number of above-ground charging points can be connected to meet increasing consumer demand. Drivers should be able to drive up and plug in via an app using a contactless payment system and be able to access uniform tariffs across the entire network and at different locations.
With charging rates between 7 kW and 22 kW depending on the type of above-ground charging units installed, the company’s installations are perfect for EV drivers who usually park on the street and help ensure fair and equal access to EV options for all .
Many EV drivers will already be familiar with the Connected Curb chargers, as the company installed more than 1,000 charging points in 2021 and is expected to have reached 5,500 by the end of next year. With contracts already in the pipeline for an additional 30,000, the company is confident of meeting its goal of nearly 200,000 by 2030. The 7,000 chargers in West Sussex will also be delivered by 2030.
“Knowing that you can arrive virtually anywhere, anytime, in any vehicle and charge your battery cheaply without inconvenience or hassle is the reality we need to deliver to create an EV society,” said Dr . Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Edge. “Our introduction of public chargers – one of the most ambitious the UK has ever seen – reflects this future and helps individuals and businesses confidently switch to electricity, reduce their carbon footprint and reduce air pollution.
“With the confirmed contracts for 10,000 chargers this year alone and 30,000 more expected next year, we are showing that we are moving forward with the work and making the necessary changes – and not just talking about them.”
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