Connected Kerb is working with Kent County Council to provide a blueprint, for local authorities across the UK, to deliver accessible EV infrastructure to out-of-town areas.
In the first phase of the project, the EV charging infrastructure provider will install 40 charging units across 20 Kent parish sites. It said this aims to reach poorly served locations encouraging a wider shift to EVs.
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, said: “Access to charging infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to the uptake of EVs. Although demand for chargers is higher in dense urban areas, the lack of infrastructure in out-of-town communities leaves people concerned about switching to EVs.
“It is vital that access to public charging is equitable across the entire country and we bring an end to the EV charging postcode lottery.”
Connect Kerb’s infrastructure is located below ground and installed once, with passive chargers that can be ‘switched on’ by adding the above ground charge point to match consumer demand.
The chargers also feature additional smart capabilities that can facilitate air quality monitoring, parking management, CCTV, road sensors, 5G connection, autonomous vehicles, route planning and power demand forecasting.
According to the company, these features, plus long lifespan, makes EV charging infrastructure much more cost effective and creates a business case for installing it in rural areas.
This long-term approach means Kent County Council, will have access to a lasting revenue stream to help maintain and expand the charger network.
Tim Middleton, transport innovations programme manager for highways, transportation & waste from Kent County Council, said: “Providing adequate electric vehicle charge-points across the county is a key part of our strategic plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“This partnership offers a fantastic opportunity for Kent businesses, residents and visitors to have equal access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure – not only is this crucial as we move closer to the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars, but it means that Kent can play its part in the transition to decarbonisation.”
The EV charging units are being installed at all sites, including village halls, pavilions and car parks, from May. Every charger will provide a 7kW – 22kW fast charge, with the point featuring contactless payment via the Connected Kerb app.
