SMART CITIES the concept in the East Lothian region of Scotland to gauge its potential . The plan involves retrofitting BT ’ s green street cabinets with devices that utilise spare power capacity not used by the broadband network , enabling curbside EV charging .
“ The existing fibre network alongside the broadband service is a key advantage ,” Jess explains . “ We don ’ t need to create a new power connection ; we can use the one already in place .”
As BT transitions from copper to fibre technology , these green street cabinets will eventually become redundant . Jess adds : “ When BT vacates these cabinets from the broadband network , we can potentially add more charge points using the remaining power capacity .”
The initiative aims to repurpose existing infrastructure for quicker EV charge point deployment , showcasing Jess and her team ’ s commitment to innovative urban solutions .
EAST LOTHIAN PILOT
“ The prototype went live on 1 May 2024 ,” Jess announces , referring to the East Lothian pilot project . Initially offered for free , the now-paid-for service has yielded valuable insights .
“ We ’ ve observed interesting trends , like repeat usage and frequent returns ,” Jess continues . “ We ’ ve also gathered data on charging durations and emerging patterns .”
The original concept was aimed at the 30 % of UK residents who do not have driveways or garages and can ’ t charge at home . evmagazine . com 87