Currently reading: BT kills pilot scheme converting signal boxes into EV chargers

Telecoms firm originally said it could convert up to 90,000 signal cabinets across the UK but only ever did one

BT has ended its pilot scheme to convert streetside signal boxes into electric vehicle chargers – after carrying out only a single conversion.

The telecoms firm previously said it would expand the scheme into West Yorkshire, converting some 600 cabinets, with a view to eventually completing 60,000 to 90,000 installations nationwide.

The theory was that the use of existing cabinets would allow a greater charger installation rate, because they were already connected to the national grid, avoiding one of the main hurdles for charger installation.

It was said that old cabinets could host multiple charger connectors once an area was upgraded to fibreoptic internet connectivity, as this involves the removal of chunky broadband cabling.

The single BT charger, in East Lothian, will be decommissioned on 14 February, according to a notice sent to users of the supporting Evve Charge app.

As first reported by the Fast Charge newsletter, BT ended the pilot scheme in order to pivot improving wi-fi connectivity for EV drivers.

“By adopting a pilot process, we have been able to test and explore a great deal about the challenges that many on-street EV drivers are facing with charging and where BT Group can add most value to the UK EV ecosystem,” a spokesperson told Autocar.

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Charlie Martin

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial assistant, Autocar

As part of Autocar’s news desk, Charlie plays a key role in the title’s coverage of new car launches and industry events. He’s also a regular contributor to its social media channels, providing videos for Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and Twitter.

Charlie joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication What Car?, during which he acquired his gold-standard NCTJ diploma with the Press Association.

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jason_recliner 17 January 2025
Sounds like a robust study.
cnb5 16 January 2025

This was obviously never a serious project. 1 x charger installed is par for the course if it was a sixth form project but for a company the size of BT it smacks of a poorly thought out diversion for them.  If anything like the oh so slow roll out of fibre across the country it would have meant another embarrassing fiasco for this desperate monopoly.

Deputy 15 January 2025

Not once in my EV have I thought "Oh, I need WiFi here". However on multiple occasions charging at an old BT box would have been very handy. I call BS on the BT excuse.