On-street public charge point network ubitricity has begun a rollout of smart charging technology to over 65% of its charging network.

ubitricity’s smart charging allows users to schedule their charge to an off-peak time, such as between 7pm – 4pm, which is priced at a cheaper rate. While smart charging is widely available in home chargers, this is the largest public smart charging rollout if its kind.

“We know from our data that most of our users like to charge their cars at the end of their working day – coinciding with when energy demand is already at its peak,” said UK Managing Director of ubitricity Toby Butler.

“Smart charging allows our EV users to plug in at their usual time but schedule their charge to start after peak hours, when energy prices are cheaper.”

ubitricity revealed that users were already responding well to smart charging, with over 45% of eligible charging sessions selecting to use the feature. Since the rollout to over 4,000 charge points began in December 2022, the average smart charging user has saved £4.00 on their charging session. A user charging twice a week would save £32 a month.

“It is estimated that over 8 million households in the UK have no access to private or off-street parking, we believe that residents should be able to access cheaper public charging options similar to EV drivers who can charge at home,” Butler continued.

“In a time where the price of energy is effecting everyone, we wanted to try and innovate new ways to pass possible energy savings onto our customers.”

ubitricity is rolling out smart charging technology to over 65% of its network.

The software was originally trialled on 300 charge points in Westminster, which currently has over 1,500 ubitricity lamppost and bollard charge points across the borough, making it the ideal location to trial the new technology. The ubitricity trial also represented a significant step in delivering increased EV charging provision to the borough.

“Being in the heart of London, most of our residents don’t have off-street or private parking so this new smart charging trial with ubitricity, which offers off-peak charging sessions at a cheaper rate, will save our residents money during this cost of living crisis and at a time where energy prices are so high,” said Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, Cabinet Member for City Management and Air Quality at Westminster City Council.

“Westminster has some of the poorest air quality of any local authority. Reducing travel by petrol or diesel cars is one of the most effective ways to improve air quality and the council wants to see more resident vehicles in Westminster become electric in the future.

“This new trial, along with our pledge for an additional 500 charging points to be installed across the borough, with a potential stretch target of 1,000, is a big step toward reaching this goal.”