Forum Topic

Another money making scheme from the Council

The Council is proposing to roll out electric vehicle charging points in the borough and has come up with a novel way of financing the project - asking for residents to stump up £500 to fund the installation of points on lamposts outside their homes.Details are here: https://www.ealing.gov.uk/info/201173/transport_and_parking/1316/electric_cars_and_charging_points/2You may get around half of the money back eventually but there's no guarantee that you'll have guaranteed access to the charging point. Indeed, they will be for public use, so you may have an issue accessing the point when you really need it.I have asked local councillors in Northfields to clarify and Labour's Paul Driscoll seems to think that the financial contribution is optional - quite where he learned the meaning of the word 'must' escapes me.This scheme will simply exacerbate parking problems in CPZs as fewer spaces will be available for petrol or diesel vehicles.I understand there's also an issue about the viability of some lampposts for use in this way, so money will have to be spent on assessing them on an individual basis.There is no indication of how much it will cost to charge a vehicle, but they won't be free. The Council will be leasing the posts to the energy provider, who will recoup the costs, and make its profits, from consumers. Given the high price of electricity these days it won't be cheap.The first charging points will be installed in Northfields and a consultation is due - I'll keep you posted on how it goes, since this will be heading to Acton in dues course.

Simon Hayes ● 2735d2 Comments

'Times they are a-CHARGING surely!'What surprised me about the free-standing charging bollards was the noise they make. I suppose there's something whirring in there to generate the electricity or maybe it's a cooling fan. Perhaps car-charging lampposts are different. I'm also told that many plugged-in electric cars hum or whirr while they're being charged. This might be OK in the privacy of a garage, but rows of electric cars lining our streets, noisily charging overnight, might not be the environmental utopia we've been led to expect.

Peter Evans ● 2730d

There are too many diesel and petrol cars causing pollution and we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  We need to move on.  Car ownership is in decline and no longer has the cachet that it once had.You can get a free trial on an electric bike from many bike shops.  There will be electric car-share cars.  The argument people have made against moving on to electric cars has been the lack of charging points.  There are hybrid cars.  The times they are a-changing.You need to look at your journeys and respond to consultations on changes to bus routes and other public transport issues.  You don't have to only use one method of transport - the car. Is there any reason why you cannot share the cost with like-minded neighbours?  The space in the street outside your house is the Queen's highway isn't it?  So we have to share.

Philippa Bond ● 2731d