VolkerSmart and Siemens set to install a further 1600 charge points across London

VolkerSmart Technologies has been awarded a number of contracts to install 1,600 electric vehicle charge points across six London boroughs, namely Ealing, Brent, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham and Islington. 

The works form part of the Go Ultra Low City Scheme (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. Through GULCS funds, London has set itself the ambition to become the ultra-low emissions vehicle capital of Europe.

VolkerSmart Technologies has been working with Siemens on the GULCS programme since 2019 and has already installed approximately 1,500 lamp column mounted EV charge points in several London boroughs.

The boroughs have made use of existing lamp posts and bollards as mountings for the charge points. 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 disruption for commuters and residents.”