BT Group is to turn its old signal cabinets into EV charge points in a move to tackle the current national shortfall in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The first charger is set to be installed in Scotland in the coming weeks

Etc, the group’s start-up and digital incubation arm, is set to install its first charger in East Lothian, Scotland in the coming weeks, with further pilots to roll out across the UK over the following months.

It’s started technical trials to see how the cabinets – traditionally used to store broadband and phone cabling – could provide a much-needed on-street charging solution to help drivers go electric.

If successful, some 60,000 cabinets could be repurposed, helping to meet government sustainability targets and decarbonise the transport system in the UK – and without the need to create new power connections.

Currently, the UK has just under 54,000 public EV charge points, according to Zapmap stats – up 45% in the last year but with a long way to go to meet the Government’s ambition of 300,000 chargers by the end of this decade.

A lack of access to charging remains a major barrier to EV purchase for many. BT Group’s recent research found that 60% of people think the UK’s EV charging infrastructure is inadequate, with 78% of petrol and diesel drivers saying not being able to conveniently charge an EV is a barrier to getting one. And more than a third (38%) say they would have an EV already if charging were less of an issue.

BT’s charging solution works by retrofitting the cabinets with a device that enables renewable energy to be shared to a charge point alongside the existing broadband service with no need to create a new power connection. EV charging can be deployed to cabinets that are in-use for current copper broadband services, or in those due for retirement, depending on the space and power available to the unit.

Once the cabinet is no longer needed for broadband, as nationwide full fibre rollout progresses, the broadband equipment is recycled, and additional EV charge points can be added. This allows re-use of existing infrastructure while deploying more charge points at pace.

Through the trials, Etc will check out a range of different technical, commercial and operational considerations to its potential EV charge point network, including power availability, customer accessibility, civil planning, funding options and whether the operation will be run as a dedicated BT Group venture or in partnership with others.

BT will also explore offering the solution at a global level to help other markets resolve the challenge of providing fit-for-purpose charging infrastructure. This includes the US, which has only 160,000 public EV chargers currently installed to serve over 2.4 million electric vehicles.

The initiative was unveiled on the global stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), after being awarded an Innovation Honoree for 2024 for outstanding design and engineering.

Tom Guy, managing director Etc at BT Group, said: “Our new charging solution is a huge step in bringing EV charging kerbside and exploring how we can address key barriers customers are currently facing. Working closely with local councils in Scotland and more widely across the UK, we are at a critical stage of our journey in tackling a very real customer problem that sits at the heart of our wider purpose to connect for good.”

“This is a key step in our mission to build products and services right now that work for the future, with positive transformation at the heart.”

Dominic Rowles, head of automotive at consultancy firm NTT DATA UK&I, said: “The Government’s initial target for rapid charging points was a tad too optimistic, but it was set before a concrete plan was in place to build the necessary infrastructure. So, let’s view this as a chance to trial more innovative solutions as we move towards greener mobility infrastructure in this country. BT Group’s cabinet conversions are a smart move that addresses the current shortfall in charging infrastructure, particularly in residential areas and smaller towns where the need is acute.”

With the 2023 Autumn Statement having pledged to eliminate hurdles to investment in EV infrastructure, Rowles also said we’re likely to see a flurry of other innovative businesses entering the EV infrastructure market.

“I foresee these new players adopting strategies similar to digital disruptors, focusing on seamless user experiences and even creating a marketplace akin to Airbnb for car charging.”