Everyone is familiar with the red postbox and black cab; iconic designs that are instantly recognisable beside or on the street. But what about the electric vehicle charge point?
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In an effort to increase awareness – and presumably use – of the new infrastructure, the Government has appointed the Royal College of Art along with PA Consulting to create an iconic new charge point, to be unveiled at the COP26 climate change conference in November and which could be seen beside roads as early as next year.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Excellent design plays a key role in supporting our transition to zero emission vehicles, which is why I want to see charge points that are as iconic and recognisable as the British phone box, London bus or black cab.”
Royal College of Art’s head of service design Clive Grinyer commented: “This is an opportunity to support the design of a future icon that will be part of our national culture as we move towards a sustainable future.”
PA Consulting’s transport and net zero mobility specialist Warwick Goodall added: “Excellent design has the power to dismantle barriers to growth and simplify the user experience, making the switch to electric vehicles more attractive, accessible, affordable and secure for drivers.”
There are now said to be 25,000 public charge points in the UK and the Government says drivers are never more than 25 miles from a charge point. One in six cars sold in the UK last month was electric.
But a reminder of the need to decarbonise road transport and encourage further take up of cleaner vehicles came this week with the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
It says that unless there are immediate and rapid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting global warming to close to 1.5°C will be beyond reach.
The UK Government is calling on countries around the world to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in the drive to keep warming to 1.5°C and says having the right charging infrastructure in place is crucial.
(Photograph: nrqemi - Shutterstock)
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