Public EV charging stations should be secure areas for drivers

As we transfer ever nearer to the ban on the sale of recent gasoline and diesel automobiles by 2030 within the UK and by 2035 within the EU, electrical automobiles (EVs) have gotten more and more extra in style. With this comes a necessity for the right charging infrastructure within the right locations, and this implies ensuring that public charging websites are fastidiously thought-about for private security, for everybody to make use of.

There are at present roughly 1.8 million public chargepoints throughout the globe. With that quantity on the rise, how can chargepoint operators and business landlords be certain that these websites present a secure and cozy charging expertise for EV drivers?

One of many first factors to think about is the situation and the encircling areas. Constructing a charging hub close to to an space with native facilities not solely makes it extra handy for drivers but it surely additionally helps them really feel much less remoted. Putting in chargers round busy retail or near busy residential areas with a excessive footfall provides drivers, notably these charging by themselves, invaluable peace of thoughts that ought to an issue happen, folks and facilities are close by to assist.

Many drivers, whether or not they’re commuting to or from work or travelling lengthy distances, must cost their EV at occasions when it’s darkish and so it’s important that charging stations are well-lit all through. Higher illuminated areas extra successfully deter vandalism or potential threats while additionally bettering visibility to others within the automobile park.

In some areas and circumstances there’s the extra want for CCTV to cowl chargers and the areas round them. Like those that set up house safety methods or video doorbells, it is a helpful methodology of deterring undesirable exercise and making charging websites really feel safer for drivers.

Likewise, an easy fee course of can also be necessary on the subject of creating a cushty charging expertise, notably at night time. By putting in chargers with a simple and seamless fee methodology, comparable to contactless, drivers will pay swiftly with the faucet of a card, minimising time spent exterior of their car or the facilities, and letting them resume their journey as shortly as potential.

Higher illuminated areas extra successfully deter vandalism or potential threats while additionally bettering visibility to others within the automobile park

Putting in hubs of 4 or extra chargers the place potential at a web site is one other manner of making a safer and secure charging expertise. Drivers can really feel uncomfortable or anxious if they’re alone when charging an EV, and so stations with a number of chargers will assist mitigate that by growing the probability that extra folks shall be round. Nonetheless, it’s additionally necessary to design the structure of the chargers and bays to make sure that charging EVs stays accessible for all.

Lastly, there are organisations that assist the prioritisation of security throughout the charging trade. Within the UK for instance, CPOs can work with ChargeSafe, a public charging endorsement physique that independently inspects and charges EV charging places, with security making up a big proportion of its key standards alongside accessibility. By assembly these requirements CPOs and business landlords can show their dedication to the security of EV drivers. This creates an setting that drivers will wish to return to and in flip encourage and allow the adoption of EVs.

The opinions expressed listed here are these of the creator and don’t essentially replicate the positions of Automotive World Ltd.

Lewis Gardiner is Head of Operations of Osprey Chargingone of many largest networks of speedy electrical car charging factors in Nice Britain

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