Plymouth to expand use of Urban Fox kerbside EV charging

Plymouth City Council and Urban Fox are to deploy on-street electric vehicle charging infrastructure to enable near-home charging for residents, especially those without off-street parking options.

The contract comes after two-and-a-half-year pilot which installed 26 dual-socket UEone chargepoints, serving 53 charging bays across 10 hubs. These supported the annual charging needs of up to 650 EV drivers. 

The next phase of this initiative will see the reinstatement 24 dual-socket UEone chargepoints – creating 48 charging bays. 
Prior to deployment, a survey revealed:

• 38% of respondents were more likely to consider purchasing an EV if local charging was readily available.
• 80% stated they would travel no more than 250 metres to access a charger.
• 90% supported the expansion of on-street EV charging.
• 80% valued clutter-free streetscapes.
• 67% placed high importance on aesthetically pleasing charging infrastructure.

Urban Fox’s UEone is a retractable, kerbside fast chargepoint. It offers a discreet design which is flush to the ground when not in use. 

Insights from the trial led to further design enhancements of the Urban Fox EUone system, including:

• Single-handed operation of the chargepoint
• Socket height adjustment to meet industry standards
• Features to support ease of use for disabled motorists and users with additional needs.

Cllr John Stephens, cabinet member for strategic planning and transport, said: “Ensuring equitable access to EV charging has never been more important. Our joint pilot with Urban Fox clearly demonstrated not only the demand but also the effectiveness of on-street charging in making meaningful progress toward our sustainability targets.”

Oli Freeling-Wilkinson, CEO of Urban Fox, added: “We are proud to build on the success of our pilot and expand this vital infrastructure in Plymouth. The UEone perfectly combines design, functionality, reliability and accessibility.”