Should rapid chargers be installed on pavements?
There's been a mixed reaction to the new rapid electric car chargers which go live later this month.
Last updated 16th Nov 2021
Green campaigners in Devon say while they support making it easier to charge an electric car they don't want the new 1.6-metre-tall rapid chargers to be installed on pavements.
Exeter is due to turn on the first of 14 on-street rapid chargers later this month - which could charge 28 vehicles at a time.
Green campaigners say spaces on pavements should be reserved for 'active travel rather than vehicles' and would rather see the chargers installed in the roads instead.
Devon expects to have more than 400 public electric car charging points installed by the end of next year - including 74 on-street rapid chargers.
Green campaigner Dan Grey said: "They're quite alien looking and they take up about half of the pavement.
"They're quite a significant blockage so I imagine if you're a blind person who's making their daily walk around the area suddenly finding this massive box blocking your path must be quite a surprise.
Amy Sparling, Exeter City Green councillor for St David's, added: "It's great that the county council have committed to installing these.
"Our concern really is that they're being built on pavements and pavements are for people so it would be great if they could be actually built out into the road where the parking bays are - so it leaves the pavements clear for people to be walking, cycling and other ways of active travel."
In response Councillor Stuart Hughes, who oversees highways at Devon County Council confirmed they approve the locations of each of the rapid on-street chargers.
He said: "The whole point about this is to roll these out, we've got to put them in areas where people are, where they actually live because that's the most important thing - it's not good putting them remotely in the middle of nowhere and that's why you're mostly seeing these chargers going in on your street."
Councillor Hughes says some of the bays are earmarked for the 17 Co Cars electric vehicles, which people can hire - which he hopes will make using an EV more accessible.
This week we're looking at the roll-out of electric cars and associated facilities in Devon after 30 nations at COP 26 in Glasgow agreed to make zero emission vehicles the 'norm' by 2030.
For more about how Devon is preparing for EVs, including the current facilities on offer and planned click here
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