Electric vehicle chargepoints set to become next great British emblem
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Design team appointed to create an iconic British chargepoint
Project could see electric vehicle chargepoints join Britain’s
renowned emblems, alongside the red post box and black cab This
comes as the UK celebrates major milestone of 25,000 public
chargepoints on roads up and down the country Electric vehicle
chargepoints across the UK could become as recognisable as the red
post box or black cab, following the appointment of the Royal
College of Artand...Request free trial
Electric vehicle chargepoints across the UK could become as recognisable as the red post box or black cab, following the appointment of the Royal College of Artand PA to deliver an iconic British chargepoint design, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced today (9 August). The design will be unveiled at COP26 in Glasgow this November and could be seen on streets across the country from 2022. The chargepoints will be functional and accessible for all users, with sustainability at the heart of the design. This project gets underway as independently produced statistics from Zap-map reveal that there are now over 25,000 public charging devices across the UK – a major milestone which means that electric vehicle drivers are never more than 25 miles from a chargepoint on UK roads. This comes as recent statistics from the SMMT show that over one in 6 cars sold in July had a plug. In the run up to COP26, the UK Government is calling on countries around the world to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, which – along with phasing out of coal power and halting deforestation – are crucial to keeping warming to 1.5C. As part of that, having the right charging infrastructure in place is crucial. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Excellent design plays a key role in supporting our transition to zero emission vehicles, which is why I want to see EV chargepoints that are as iconic and recognisable as the British phone box, London bus or black cab. “With less than three months to go until COP26, we continue to put the UK at the forefront of the design, manufacture and use of zero emission vehicles and their charging infrastructure, as we build back greener and call on countries around the world to similarly accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.” The roll-out will allow chargepoints to be more recognisable for drivers, helping to create awareness around the transition to EVs – and linking them to the iconic British designs of old that are recognised the world over. Today’s announcement follows the launch of Government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan, a world-leading ‘greenprint’ published earlier this summer that sets out a credible path for the UK to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and lead the world in tackling climate change. It also comes alongside an array of Government interventions to ensure charging is as easy as, if not easier than refuelling a petrol or diesel car or van. Clive Grinyer, Head of Service Design at the Royal College of Art, said: “This is an opportunity to support the design of a future icon that will be part of our national culture as we move towards a sustainable future. The RCA has been at the forefront of shaping our products, mobility and services for the last 180 years. We are delighted to be playing a role in the design of the total service experience to ensure a usable, beautiful and inclusive design that is an excellent experience for all.” Warwick Goodall, transport and net-zero mobility expert at PA said: “We know that excellent design has the power to dismantle barriers to growth and simplify the user experience, making the switch to electric vehicles more attractive, accessible, affordable and secure for drivers. “PA has a strong legacy in product design, which is an integral part of our world leading end-to-end innovation capability. The combination of PA’s world-class design team and the Royal College of Art (RCA) brings the creative expertise to re-imagine the EV chargepoint as an iconic piece of British street furniture. “We look forward to working together with the public and industry on a design framework that will accelerate the Chargepoint rollout ambitions and bring to life the electric vehicle revolution on our streets.” Contact Information
Ellie Kiai Notes to editors This government is already investing significantly in charging infrastructure; our £1.3bn will address rapid charging for long journeys and funding for local authority on-street infrastructure projects. Later this year, we are legislating to address common complaints about the experience of using infrastructure: by mandating pricing transparency; introducing a minimum reliability standard; supporting roaming; and, opening public EV chargepoint data. The market is also resolving issues such as different types of connectors and converging on a single connector thus no intervention is required for this. About the RCA – the world’s number one art and design university The Royal College of Art is the world's leading university of art and design. A small, specialist and research-intensive postgraduate university based in London, the RCA provides over 2,000 students with unrivalled opportunities to deliver art and design projects that transform the world. Offering MA, MPhil, MRes and PhD programmes across the disciplines of architecture, arts & humanities, design and communications, the RCA's approach is founded on the premise that art, design, creative thinking, science, engineering and technology must all collaborate to solve today's global challenges. The College employs around 1,000 professionals from all over the world to teach and develop students in 30 academic programmes; exposing them to new knowledge in a way that encourages experimentation. InnovationRCA, the university's centre for enterprise, entrepreneurship, incubation and business support, has helped over 70 RCA business ideas become a reality that has led to the creation of over 750 UK jobs. The RCA was named the world's leading university of art and design in the QS World Rankings 2021 for the seventh consecutive year. Alongside his work at the RCA, Clive Grinyer is a strategic advisor on design and innovation for business and public sector bodies, and has led design teams for Barclays Bank, Samsung, Orange and IDEO. He founded the design consultancy Tangerine, with former Apple Chief Design Officer and RCA Chancellor Sir Jony Ive. He is supported in this design initiative by the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, a global leader in Inclusive Design, Design Thinking and Creative Leadership, led by Director Rama Gheerawo. About PA We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future in a technology-driven world. As strategies, technologies and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity. Our diverse teams of experts combine innovative thinking and breakthrough use of technologies to progress further, faster. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results. An innovation and transformation consultancy, we are over 3,300 specialists in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government, health and life sciences, and transport. Our people are strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers and technologists. We operate globally from offices across the UK, US, Netherlands and Nordics. PA’s design capabilities Design is an integral part of PA’s end-to-end innovation capability which also includes strategy, engineering and manufacturing process improvement. We believe that by applying design principles end-to-end across processes, organisations will dismantle barriers to growth and increase impact. And in doing so, unlock the ingenuity trapped in their organisations. For nearly 80 years, we have been delivering world-class design innovation. More recently, PA has enhanced its design capabilities through the acquisition of award-winning design firms Essential Design and Astro Studios. A few recent examples of our product designs include: The UK’s first smart metering system A low-cost sustainable packaging solution First hand-held portable tonometer |