Regular readers will know that while I am a petrol head at heart, I appreciate that the future is electric, or a form of ZEV (zero emission vehicle).

Another topic I’ve mentioned on at least one occasion is the issue with public charging, although that is something that is seeing vast improvements. Back in 2015, I tested my first EV, a Tesla Model S, and when it came to charging, I had to travel to Gloucester services to find a Tesla charger.

Shell and BP rolling out EV chargers

Nowadays, there are chargers in almost every large car park, most services, and even roadside in some big cities. The likes of Shell and BP are rolling out a network of EV chargers too, so it really is a much more feasible thing to own an EV now. Home chargers are also much more accessible. I’m potentially more aware of chargers, given what I do, but it was only recently on a trip to London that I started to recognise the impact of this.

Waiting to cross a road by Piccadilly Circus, it suddenly struck me that the cars stopping at the red light were electric. And the taxis, the buses and vans – all electric. There was one “dirty” petrol vehicle, a small Mazda hatchback, and it really stood out. Not just because it had an exhaust, but because I could hear it. And that’s when I had the first of a couple of realisations.

Central London air quality so much better

I was in central London, and the dominant sound was people. Not cars. Not buses. And that led to my second realisation… the air quality in central London is so much better than it used to be. I’m sure, measured correctly and scientifically, it would still be considerably dirtier than the air in Gloucestershire, but there is a noticeable improvement, and that can only be a good thing.

Which takes us back to charging. I’m sure in cities, charging isn’t even a concern anymore, but in more rural areas, the availability is markedly lower. The UK Government has an ambition to achieve the milestone of 300,000 public charging points by 2030. Currently the installed number is around 50,000, with a third of those located in London itself, so we are a long way from being there yet. But innovation comes from many different sources…

BT initiative could add 60,000 EV chargers

A recent news story showcased the fact that BT (of all companies) has started an initiative to transform up to 60,000 roadside exchange cabinets to operate as EV charge points as well – without any massive modifications as the power supply is already there. The scheme is still very much in its infancy, with the first conversion planned for Scotland soon, but if a communications company can suddenly stick its metaphorical head above the parapet with a plan to create another 60,000 chargers, suddenly the Government target is seeming a lot closer.

The future has been electric for some time. Only now, it seems a lot closer.