Smart street lighting will be installed in local parts of the UK to provide better wireless connectivity for UK EV charging points.
The wireless charging trial, which is a £1.3 million government experiment, can enhance EV charging stations while simultaneously monitoring air quality and conserving energy.
Companies are increasingly looking for potential to place equipment on lamp posts, traffic signals, CCTV columns, benches, bins, and bus stops as a result of the growing demand for wireless services.
The program’s successful trials will match government money, resulting in a total investment of more than £4 million to assist improve local connection.
How might wireless charging improve the usability of EV charging hubs?
In the UK, there are presently about 48,000 EV charging points, and this number is expected to increase significantly over the next several years.
EVs often have shorter ranges than conventional types of cars, necessitating more frequent use of fast charges.
Due to the need for vehicles to return to their depot during the day for charging, this can have an impact on productivity and efficiency for enterprises who operate fleets of electric vans. The wasted time and mileage incurred from traveling from the delivery route to the depot as a result is known as “stem mileage.”
Instead of utilizing wires or traveling great distances to a spot where the car can be plugged in, wireless charging enables drivers to charge while parked close to wireless EV charging stations.
Wireless charging offers more flexibility by allowing vehicles to charge while being loaded, unloaded, and parked.
Infrastructure in the UK is expected to become completely dependent on wireless technologies.
The purpose of this wireless technology trial is to demonstrate how cutting-edge wireless technology may become a crucial component of UK infrastructure by utilizing it at EV charging points and other locations.
To fully benefit from 5G and improved connectivity, it will connect companies and public services in new ways.
Digital connection is the foundation for how we communicate, access information, and do business, according to Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale.
Future employment, skills, and services will all be built on top of a top-notch wireless infrastructure.
The pilots for EV charging centers are exactly what he was talking about when he said: “We want to make sure that towns and cities across the UK are right at the forefront of this connectivity revolution, ready to seize the opportunities it will bring for local communities.”
The purpose of the pilot is to assist the UK Government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, which outlines how the country would integrate wireless connection into both new and existing infrastructure while fostering private investment, fostering innovation, and opening up fresh avenues for economic growth.
The experimental programs will start in October 2023 and go until March 31 of 2025.
