Car chargers to get ‘classic’ design to convince drivers

ELECTRIC car chargers are to be designed by the Royal College of Art in a bid to convince drivers to switch away from petrol.

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said he wants the chargers to have an “iconic and recognisable” look akin to red phone boxes or the black cab.

The move comes as latest data showed there are now 25,000 public electric car chargers installed in the UK.

Ministers are trying to increase the relatively low take-up of electric vehicles ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars.

In March, analysis of government figures by the RAC found that there are around 80,000 privately owned electric cars on UK roads out of around 32 million vehicles in total.

A survey by carmaker Seat of 2,000 drivers earlier this year found that one of the objections motorists have to the technology is that they consider the chargers “eyesores”.

Yesterday, the Department for Transport announced it has handed its project to design a classic British charger to the Royal College and design firm PA. The prototype is due to be unveiled in November at the COP26 global emissions summit in Glasgow.

Mr Shapps said: “Excellent design plays a key role in supporting our transition to zero emission vehicles, which is why I want to see EV charge points that are as iconic and recognisable as the British phone box, London bus or black cab.

“With less than three months to go until COP26, we continue to put the UK at the forefront of the design, manufacture and use of zero emission vehicles and their charging infrastructure.”