I agree that chargers are key to the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), particularly as over a third of households have no space for off-street charging (Letters, 3 December). But too little is made of the existing domestic and institutional charging infrastructure close to home.
I can identify underused chargers within easy walking distance of my house (which has no driveway). A 20-unit housing association development has a charge point for each house, but only a few are in use. If these householders were incentivised to join Co-Charger, an online platform and app, their neighbours, including me, would be more inclined to switch to EVs as they would have access to occasional at-home charging. Simple online payments, contributing a little more than the cost of the electricity, would avoid the 20% VAT added to public charging points and save time.
The school opposite has spaces for over 100 cars and 10 charging points. They are not used after school hours and could be a community asset. Opening up neighbourhood charging would also help to avoid laying cables across pavements.
Chas Ball
Huddersfield
• To those who say EVs are unbuyable unless you have a home-charging point – does everyone have a petrol pump at home? While far more are certainly needed, fast charging points at service stations, train stations, workplaces or supermarkets can deliver 100 miles of range (two or three days’ driving for most people) in 15 minutes.
Stephen Psallidas
Newcastle
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