The Low Carbon London trial aims to address potential inadequacies in the hardware of the UK electrical grid – it is estimated that if 25% of drivers switched to electric vehicles, half the transformers in the UK could need to be upgraded, resulting in digging up roads and potential outages.

A network of 63 popular electric vehicle charging points will be used to test a smart control system which can briefly suspend the flow of electricity during peak periods, allowing the supply to be shared among a larger number of users without disrupting drivers’ recharging rates.

Running until April, the trial is a collaboration between utility company UK Power Networks, charging point manufacturer POD Point, Smarter Grid Solutions and Imperial College London.

Michael Clark, Low Carbon London programme director, said: ‘Success in these trials could reduce the cost and disruption associated with building new power infrastructure to support the expansion of EV charging systems, benefiting consumers across the country. We believe this is the first trial of ‘active network management’ involving electric vehicles in Britain.’