DRIVERS TO SAVE HUNDREDS OF POUNDS AS UK-FIRST ELECTRIC VEHICLE SMART CHARGING SCHEME COMES TO HACKNEY

·       Hackney is one of just four regions to trial world-leading scheme and was chosen due to high local demand for public Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers.

·       Residents now have the opportunity to take part in the UK’s first on-street smart metering charging EV charging scheme – Agile Streets – to save hundreds of pounds a year and support the green energy revolution.

·       Drivers could cut the cost of charging by around 40% – equivalent to saving around £290 a year on a Renault Zoe.

·       30 new on-street Connected Kerb EV chargers installed as part for the project, providing crucial infrastructure for 40% without off-street EV charging options.

·       Selected residents without an EV offered up to 50% off for the first 2 months from Onto, the electric cars subscription service, to take part.

 Residents in Hackney will be amongst the first in the UK to take part in a pioneering new project that could save them hundreds of pounds every year when publicly charging electric vehicles (EVs).

 Hackney is one of four regions to take part in the world-leading scheme to demonstrate how smart technology can be integrated into public EV chargers across the UK to support the green energy revolution and collectively save consumers millions of pounds in the process. Hackney was chosen due to reported high demand for public EV charging points from locals.

  EV ownership is skyrocketing, with UK registrations up 105% in 2020 compared to 2019 – or 59% in Hackney.[iii] However, the 40% of UK households without off-street parking have to rely on the public charging network to charge EVs, which at present is usually more expensive than charging on a driveway. Unlike those who can charge at home, drivers without off-street parking cannot benefit from smart energy tariffs which shave hundreds of pounds off the cost of charging every year. This creates significant inequality between road users, as outlined in a report commissioned by the UK Government.

Now, a UK-first government backed project – Agile Streets – will address this challenge. In Hackney, the project will see 30 on-street smart chargers installed by Connected Kerb and will be the first in the UK to integrate smart metering technology into public on-street chargers. Hackney Council has planned the locations to complement its EV charging strategy and promote the transition to electric vehicles. This cuts the cost of EV charging by as much as 40% for people who don’t have driveways – equivalent to savings of up to £290 a year. Drivers will simply download an app to charge as they go.

 Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, said: “Easy access to affordable charging infrastructure is one of the biggest barriers to the uptake of EVs. The number of smart energy tariffs has exploded in recent years thanks to increasing demand from EV owners, making charging at home one of the most affordable ways to travel today. However, almost half of us don’t have that privilege and instead rely on public charging infrastructure which is often more expensive. It is vital that access to affordable energy is equitable across the entire population – driveway or not – and this project does just that, giving drivers in Hackney without off-street parking the same benefits as everyone else.”

Smart metering allows EVs to schedule charging at times when energy prices are cheapest, such as overnight when demand is low or on sunny and windy days when there is an abundance of supply due to additional solar and wind energy. This reduces emissions and keeps costs low for drivers. By telling the app what time you need the car charged by, drivers will always have enough power to drive away when needed.

 Ged O’Sullivan, local resident and Hybrid driver, said:“I’ve been driving electric for three years now – paying a premium for energy in the process. Now, this scheme allows me to save a huge amount of money every month, while also making it easier for me to charge by increasing the number of charge points. I’m thrilled to be playing my part in a project that is accelerating the transition to a greener future – plus I get to save a few pounds in the process!”

 

Local drivers who have not yet gone electric but wish to participate in the scheme, can still sign up to be selected to take part by accessing an electric car from Onto, an electric car subscription service, offering up to 50% off for the first 2 months.

 Rob Jolly, CEO at Onto, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Agile Streets. This project resonates very much with Onto’s mission of making driving more affordable, sustainable and flexible, accelerating EV adoption and lowering the threshold for anyone to drive an EV.”

 The Agile Streets project intends to demonstrate the use of a smart metering system as a new business model to manage public EV charging sustainably, incentivising EV drivers to allow a flexible charging schedule, normally reserved for those with home charging.

 The trial will run from October 2021 until May 2022, giving hundreds of local drivers the opportunity to benefit. Once the trial is over, the 30 chargers will be passed to Hackney Borough Council, providing much needed on-street EV charging infrastructure for future use, with the aim of increasing EV uptake ahead of the 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles.

Cllr Mete Coban, Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm said: “Providing equal access to affordable electric vehicle charging across Hackney is a key part of our plan to rebuild a greener Hackney. Our vision is for the borough to be: greener, with more trees and wildlife; healthier, with more of us walking, cycling and taking public transport; and, cleaner, with better air quality.
“This scheme offers a fantastic opportunity for businesses and residents to have access to charging infrastructure that could save them hundreds of pounds every year. This is crucial as we move closer to the 2030 ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars.”

To apply to take part in the scheme, drivers simply sign up at www.agilestreets.com. A selection process will then take place to ensure applicants live and/or work in the local area.

The Agile Streets project is delivered by a consortium comprised of Samsung Research, Connected Kerb, Octopus Energy For Business, SMETS Design Limited, Energy Saving Trust and the Power Networks Distribution Centre. The project was awarded £1.5m by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to deliver the Beyond Off Street Smart Meter Electric Vehicle Charging programme.