Green boxes you see on the street are about to become something very different

08 January 2024 , 15:14

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BT launches pilot to convert telecom street cabinets into EV chargers (Image: BT Group)

Old green street cabinets which were previously used to keep broadband cabling will be converted into power banks for EV charging points, a new announcement reveals. Many of the cabinets are close to the end of their lifespan, and will be converted, as part of a BT Group pilot, beginning in East Lothian, Scotland.

BT Group indicates that if the scheme, which is managed by its startup and digital incubation arm Etc, succeeds, there will be 60,000 street cabinets nationwide. They could be used in the same way to address the lack of chargers for electric vehicles.

At the moment there are just 50,000 EV charging points across the UK, however according to figures by Zapmap, a third are situated in London. But many users have complained they are faulty or cannot be replied upon.

In a BT Group survey, almost two-thirds of respondents said they think the country’s EV charging infrastructure is inadequate, and the government intends to boost the number of charging points to 300,000 by 2030. The cabinets are refitted with a device that enables renewable energy to be shared to a charging point.

Old green street cabinets which were previously used to keep broadband cabling will be converted into power banks for EV charging (Getty Images)

The device will work alongside current broadband cables that are being removed, with a nationwide full fibre rollout progressing. Tom Guy, managing director of Etc. 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.

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A dark green street cabinet which is used to house telecommunications switchgear and equipment (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"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."

Due to post-Brexit trade rules, it was reported that in October, electric vehicles might cost £3,400 this year. Tariffs of ten per cent were due to be implemented on the exports of electric cars between the UK and EU from January 1, if at least 45 per cent of their value did not originate in the EU or UK.

But just prior to Christmas, a new negotiated deal means current rules will stay in place until the end of 2026.

Charlie Duffield