The owner of broadband provider Virgin Media has revealed plans to install 1,200 electric vehicle (EVs) chargers across the UK over the next 18 months as part of a new consortium, which includes Swedish power company Vattenfall and a number of local authorities.
Where viable, the group will use or upgrade the existing power supplies for Virgin’s 40,000 street cabinets. Its 170,000 kilometres of underground ducts will also be used to provide communications to the charge points.
Jason Simpson, vice president of global energy and utilities at Liberty Global, which is also the largest investor in the Formula E electric racing championship, said: “Leveraging street cabinets allows Liberty Global to look beyond traditional uses of telecom infrastructure and make a positive impact on the environment and in communities throughout the UK.”
The project, named Virgin Media Park & Charge, has been created in partnership with Innovate UK to address a lack of on-street charging facilities.
“By bringing more electric vehicle chargers and associated connectivity to Britain’s streets, we are making a significant contribution to Innovate UK’s ambition to encourage more people to buy electric cars,” added Simpson.
“We’re excited to be working with a wide array of partners who each bring their own areas of expertise to this exciting and innovative project.”