Changing Rooms designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen has formed a new partnership with electric vehicle (EV) charging network GRIDSERVE as its new Chief Visibility Officer.
It follows research that found drivers are underestimating the size of the UK’s electric charging network by half, due to outdated motorway signage rules. Just 3% of Brits correctly identified there are between 80,000-89,0000 public chargers on UK roads, with many unsure or underestimating the number.
Current regulations mean on some roads there is no signage for EV chargers at all, and those who do manage to achieve signage have to jump through complicated bureaucratic hoops.
As a result, thousands of charging locations remain hidden in plain sight, despite being dotted along key routes, retail parks, and service areas across the country.
To help shine a light on the issue, Llewelyn-Bowen has teamed up with GRIDSERVE, dressed in a fluorescent suit of highlighter yellow and hitting the road in a digital, electric ad-van, with one of his bold new designs to showcase nearby charging locations.
He visited one of GRIDSERVE’s flagship charging locations in Stevenage on the A1(M) to speak to motorists about how to make EV chargers stand out more. Flamingos were a popular suggestion to bring some colour to the signage.
Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen said:
“The rules around signage for EV chargers are outdated – it should be as natural and visible as a petrol pump. Together with GRIDSERVE, I want to spark a little joy into the process of powering up, and make the UK’s charging network a design icon in its own right with bright and beautiful signage.
“These are the new pit stops of modern Britain – why wouldn’t we want to celebrate infrastructure like this? Your charging experience can be just as vibrant as your journey, especially when you’re filling up with clean, sustainable energy.”
Daniel Kunkel, CEO at GRIDSERVE, said:
“We know that lots of petrol and diesel drivers have concerns about switching to electric and finding charge points on their journeys.
“However, the UK has one of the fastest-growing charging networks in Europe and at GRIDSERVE, we’re proud to be contributing to that with a rollout that focuses on the most powerful chargers at the most convenient ‘on the go’ locations.
“Supporting the charger network with updated signage rules is crucial for accelerating EV adoption and showing drivers that in an EV you have the freedom to make any journey you want to.”
Image courtesy of GRIDSERVE
