Liberty Global sets sights on sparking on-street EV charging

Liberty Global is utilising the network infrastructure of its UK subsidiary Virgin Media with the aim of improving on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging. The telecoms company says it will utilise Virgin Media’s 40,000 powered street cabinets and 170,000 km of ducts as part of a partnership with Innovate UK. Jason Simpson, Liberty’s vice president global energy and utilities, says the street cabinets allow the company to “look beyond traditional uses of telecom infrastructure and make a positive impact
November 15, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Liberty Global is utilising the network infrastructure of its UK subsidiary Virgin Media with the aim of improving on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging.

The telecoms company says it will utilise Virgin Media’s 40,000 powered street cabinets and 170,000 km of ducts as part of a partnership with Innovate UK.

Jason Simpson, Liberty’s vice president global energy and utilities, says the street cabinets allow the company to “look beyond traditional uses of telecom infrastructure and make a positive impact on the environment and in communities throughout the UK”.

“By bringing more EV chargers and associated connectivity to Britain’s streets, we are making a significant contribution to Innovate UK’s ambition to encourage more people to buy electric cars,” he adds.

Over the next 18 months, Liberty is to deploy and operate 1,200 charging sockets across the UK. The rollout of EV charging stations which use Virgin Media’s connectivity will build a scalable charging network, the company adds.

Liberty is taking part in the project as part of the Virgin Media Park & Charge consortium whose members include delivery companies such as Vattenfall, tech firms like Cenex and 2223 Loughborough University. Other members include councils in Oxfordshire, London’s Hammersmith & Fulham and Belfast.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hyperloop One unveils nine routes across Europe as part of its Global Challenge
    June 6, 2017
    Executives from Hyperloop One joined European dignitaries and policymakers in Amsterdam, Holland today at its Vision for Europe summit to discuss transforming transportation across the continent with Hyperloop.
    Read More
  • Alfen to supply EU offices with EV charging infrastructure
    September 14, 2017
    Belgian company Alfen has won a tender to supply the European Commission offices in Brussels with charging equipment for electric vehicles (EVs). Alfen will also provide its online management tool for real-time insights into charging behaviour and remote control of the chargers. The roll-out of the first phase of 60 chargers is taking place in September 2017.
    Read More
  • Veolia wastes nothing to go electric
    November 23, 2018
    Resource management company Veolia will trial two electric refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) which are charged by power derived from waste collected in Sheffield, UK. The former diesel-powered vehicles are expected to operate by the end of the year. The company says the project is intended to demonstrate its commitment to the deployment of zero-emission heavy goods vehicles. Innovate UK has provided a £220,000 grant to Sheffield City Council which will allow the 26-tonne RCVs to operate over the next two y
    Read More
  • US DoT forms council to support Hyperloop commercialisation
    March 20, 2019
    US secretary of transportation Elaine Chao has announced a new council to help commercialise Hyperloop technology. The Non-Traditional and Emerging Transportation Technology (NETT) Council will aim to explore the regulation of Hyperloop technology to help bring it to the US. Virgin Hyperloop One says it has been working with the US Department of Transportation and Chao for months, taking the necessary steps to commercialise the technology. The council will also explore emerging technologies like t
    Read More

Highlighted Content