EV charger designed ‘for UK-wide rollout’ may never be made

Grant Shapps unveils the design last year. He said it would become ‘as iconic and recognisable as the British phone box’. Photograph: Department for Transport/PA

It was meant to join the red phone box, the London bus and the black cab as a symbol of modern Britain. Yet a so-called iconic design for a UK electric car charger commissioned by Grant Shapps, then transport minister, is likely to remain on the drawing board after the government admitted it may never be made.

The government put out the tender for the contract in June last year and revealed the winning design, by the Royal College of Art and PA Consulting, at the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow a few months later.

Shapps, who is now business secretary, said the bollard-like design, which featured the royal coat of arms and a round, light-up handle, would be “rolled out across the country”, would “stand the test of time” and be “as iconic and recognisable as the British phone box, London bus or black cab”.

Designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, red phone boxes are now almost defunct, albeit still present on some British streets where communities have repurposed them to house miniature libraries or defibrillators. Updated versions of red London buses and black London taxis are still being manufactured, even as their makers have struggled with profitability.

The UK has always excelled in producing iconic designs for its public infrastructure- from postboxes & telephone boxes to buses & signage 🇬🇧

So, as we look to the future, I’m launching a design competition for an electric vehicle charge point that will stand the test of time 👇 pic.twitter.com/UZkj8UQyjq

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) June 17, 2021

However, the Department for Transport has now admitted that the charger may not be installed on Britain’s roads. It conceded last month that “the concept is not intended for manufacture or deployment”, in response to a freedom of information request by Tom Riley, who writes the Fast Charge automotive newsletter.

The government added that the project “helped raise awareness and generate excitement of [sic] the UK’s electric vehicle programme”. The tender had a budget of £200,000, but the winners provided the design at zero cost, a government spokesperson said.

📢Exciting news pending...! I look forward to the unveiling of an iconic new electric vehicle chargepoint at #COP26 Transport Day tomorrow.🔌

It'll be rolled out across the country, making charging even easier & accessible as we step closer towards a net zero future 🌍 pic.twitter.com/GuhQkX4ozv

— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) November 9, 2021

Ministers are under pressure to improve the UK’s charging infrastructure to meet fast-growing demand, particularly in cities where residents often do not have dedicated parking.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, a lobby group, on Friday warned that the government is unlikely to meet its target for 300,000 public chargers in the UK by 2030.

Riley said: “The government should not be pulling the plug on projects that would make the UK’s charging network more accessible. As many people start getting into an electric car, having easy to use chargers is going to be hugely important.”