VolkerSmart Technologies has been awarded a number of contracts to install 1,600 EVCP across six London boroughs, including Ealing, Brent, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham and Islington.  

The works form part of GULCS, a programme by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles within the Department for Transport and involves the delivery of all civils and electrical works, and the installation of the chargers.

The scheme aims to encourage more people to consider switching to electric, to help improve air quality in urban hotspots, and assist the Government in meeting its emission-cutting targets.

VolkerSmart Technologies has been working with Siemens on the GULCS programme since 2019, and has already installed circa. 1,500 lamp column mounted EVCP in several London boroughs. The business also covers 24/7 emergency standby and call outs for EVCP in the London Boroughs of Brent, Ealing, Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, Hackney, Camden, Sutton and Islington.

The boroughs have made use of existing lamp posts and bollards as mountings for the EVCP. As the electrical infrastructure is already available in the columns, this provides a cost-effective solution, allowing residents who do not have access to off-street parking, to easily charge their vehicle, close to home.

Gareth Marshall, head of operations and service delivery at Siemens eMobility, said: “The GULCS charging infrastructure contracts that we’ve managed for a number of London boroughs need an efficient socket rollout and maintenance programme. We chose to appoint VolkerSmart Technologies to support Siemens on these projects due to their consistent programme management and delivery. Through this project we have also utilised their independent connections and traffic management divisions to improve DNO connection speeds and minimise distruption for commuters and residents.”

David Easton, operations director for VolkerSmart Technologies, said: “VolkerSmart Technologies has extensive experience in installing a range of charging points in challenging locations, which have significant footfall. We are delighted to be continuing to support Siemens, where we will be providing more Londoners with EVCP accessibility.”