Nearly half of all vehicle owners – 43% – do not have a driveway, which is why,we at Connected Kerb believe the future of electric vehicle charging will be focused on urban residential streets. Current fossil fuel forecourts will not be able to cope with expected demand and, as demand for charging increases, the UK power network will not be able to sustain a rapid charging solution for all.

The only viable option is a low power, low cost, low impact residential solution which can be rolled out nationally.

The UK power network cannot currently cope with a mass rollout of rapid chargers. Whilst rapid chargers have their place, the average time to charge is 30 minutes and the existing UK infrastructure for powering vehicles simply does not have the forecourt space to cope with multiple vehicles charging at any one time. This applies going forward too, based on the expected speeds of rapid charging over the next 20 years.

The current providers of on-street charging solutions have experienced many roadblocks to their solutions, not least cost.

The only viable solution is a rollout of a residential on street charging network.

All of our products are designed to minimise visual impact and reduce street clutter. Our experience of working with local councils means we understand the importance of reducing street clutter. The Connected Kerb Armadillo – our specially designed charging point – has been sympathetically designed to accommodate this requirement.

At Connected Kerb, our core purpose is powering the future sustainably, which is why we have chosen to manufacture our charging components from recycled vehicle tyres and recycled plastic. We understand that environmental impact doesn’t stop at the point of assembly, which is why we will also use recycled aggregates during the construction phase of our infrastructure roll-outs.

We believe in the Circular Economy and sustainability by powering our charge points using renewable energy. It is our goal to power all of our charge points via renewable sources now and into the future.

We use an advanced software system that enables drivers to quickly and easily charge their vehicles, take advantage of attractive energy tariffs and, where appropriate, feed power back to the grid.

Our solution also enables the asset owner to better manage the use of charge points, incentivising use by the public (through reduced fees or parking rates) and encouraging responsible charging (through notifications and intelligent pricing) to maximise the number of users.

Our software platform is fully Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) compliant and simple for drivers to use, even as first time users where QR codes and Near Field Communication (NFC) technology is able to quickly direct the user to the Connected Kerb mobile app.

5G Connectivity – The Connected Kerb system can also be fitted with street level 5G repeater units, supported by our fibre backbone and facilitating the swift adoption of 5G in residential environments, from car to street to pedestrian to house. This network will enable future mobility solutions, such as autonomous vehicles to download their data on the go or when they recharge.

We recognise users’ privacy and how valuable their own data is to them. We are creating a safe, secure network where users will ‘own’ their personal data. Every user will have a secure data silo, a little like a digital safety deposit box, that will contain all user and transaction data; we’ll offer users control over how their data is shared, used and monetised.

IoT (Internet of Things) sensors providing surrounding environmental data, such as air quality data, temperature and parking bay occupancy. This can subsequently provide an aggregate view of pollution impact and mitigating approaches to support public and private Ultra Low Emission Zone initiatives.