char.gy has been added to the Go Ultra Low City Scheme framework to help Londoners without access to off-street parking make the switch to electric vehicles (EVs). The new framework, hosted by TfL, Greater London Authority and London Councils and funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles, aims to deliver 1,150 on-street EV charge points across the London boroughs by the end of 2020. char.gy has been recognised by industry bodies for offering an easy-to-install, standards-compliant product that can be added to existing lampposts.
The company is the first smart charge point provider to support open-access charging in accordance UK Government legislation and the unmetered supply regulations issued by ELEXON – permitting the supply of electricity without the requirement for it to be metered. char.gy’s easy-to-manage service and open-access network benefits will help deliver a reliable, low-cost and convenient solution for on-street plug-in electric car and van charging across London.
“We are very excited to support London Councils in getting charge points onto the streets of London, making it possible for anyone to own an electric vehicle – particularly those in the capital without off-street parking” said Richard Stobart, CEO of char.gy. “We see this as a big step in reducing vehicle emissions across London, a very important step in the government’s ‘Road to Zero’ strategy, and it is great to be supporting London’s borough councils in meeting this demand. char.gy is the first UK public lamppost chargepoint provider to support ad-hoc electric vehicle charging using power from existing lampposts. Our easy-to-install charging units provide a cost-effective EV charging infrastructure for councils using 700,000 lampposts across the capital. As well as being financially advantageous to the councils, our charging service is also reasonably priced for their residents.”
Ben Plowden, TfL’s Director of Strategy and Network Development added that the framework will make it easier for boroughs to improve Londoners’ access to electric charging points and that this in turn will make London's transport greener and improve its air quality.
“These boroughs are at the forefront of electrifying London, and it is by working together that we can clean up the capital’s toxic air” Mr Plowden said.
char.gy offers councils access to a dedicated portal, allowing them to have full visibility of lamppost charging devices, and to remotely monitor the units to ensure that service-level agreements are met. Through this portal, councils can also upgrade the charge points remotely to guarantee that they offer the latest benefits for EV drivers.
The char.gy smart charging units tap into the existing street-lighting network by fitting directly onto lampposts, offering an easy-to-install option for London boroughs that is far more cost-effective than digging up streets to install new infrastructure or replace existing lampposts. Unlike most EV charging solutions, char.gy does not require users to have a smartcard or special cable to charge. Users simply plug a standard (Type 2) charging cable into the char.gy unit, then use their mobile web browser to access, commence and manage the charging services.
char.gy units fit almost any lamppost and provide up to 7.7kW of charging. Charging is activated via smartphone browsers, which manages the onboarding, charging cycle, notifications and payment. Users can choose from either ‘pay-as-you-go’ or monthly subscription-based pricing tariffs.
78 percent of households in London don’t have off-street parking, meaning that widespread EV uptake is reliant on a viable, convenient means of on-street charging.
Image courtesy of char.gy
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