[mikeselectricstuff]

EV charging points could be as ‘iconic’ as red phone boxes

The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking to recruit designers for EV charging points, prompting hopes that they will become icons of British design like red telephone boxes and the London Underground map.

eandt.theiet.org

 

[freddym]

EV charging points could be as ‘iconic’ as red phone boxes

The Department for Transport (DfT) is seeking to recruit designers for EV charging points, prompting hopes that they will become icons of British design like red telephone boxes and the London Underground map.

eandt.theiet.org

This is nonsense. Who cares whether they are iconic or not. Charging Points need to be widesoread, functional, reliible, affordable etc etc etc but ICONIC, really?

 

[Troon]

This is nonsense. Who cares whether they are iconic or not. Charging Points need to be widesoread, functional, reliible, affordable etc etc etc but ICONIC, really?

If they can independently — and as priority — sort out all of your completely valid points, I'd support a good design. Why not?

 

[Jeremy Harris]

I suppose that, if you go back to the time when filling stations were new, there were some iconic designs of fuel pumps. The Shell ones with the illuminated glass shell on top, for example.

 

[HillmanImp]

Symbols matter. A lot. If you want to bring about a change, especially ones needing the involvement of a lot of people, you need symbols. Ask any demagogue!

So, yes, an iconic design would be great. I think the main problem is that whenever someone consciously sets out to make something iconic they usually fall flat on their face - the really special stuff mostly happens by accident plus subsequent refinement.

 

[ChrisCross123]

If they can independently — and as priority — sort out all of your completely valid points, I'd support a good design. Why not?

If it helps them get accepted and approved for use in conservation areas / locations with no off street parking then why not?

It is only packaging the EVSE into a different enclosure, so with modern manufacturing processes implementation will be trivial once the design(s) are complete.

 

[wfo123]

Having the odd iconic telephone box is one thing. But imagine having 10 phone boxes in a row...

Shouldn't the focus therefore be on standardising road markings / signage etc so it is consistent across the country? We can all recognise a disabled bay but in my experience it seems like EV charging bays are marked in very different ways depending on the provider / authority.

 

[electric_dreams]

Having the odd iconic telephone box is one thing. But imagine having 10 phone boxes in a row...

Probably need something more like electricity pylons (also the result of a competition) than phone boxes. Or rather something in-between the two - still visible, but not in your face.

 

[freddym]

If they can independently — and as priority — sort out all of your completely valid points, I'd support a good design. Why not?

Total rubbish idea. Remember Post Office (pre BT) was a complete monopoly, so one size did the job. In addition, BEV charging is evolving technology, so why lock it in to some nonsense packaging.

This exercise is just a diversion from the rubbish planning and real provision. Smell the roses folk and avoid the BS.

 

[MDave]

How will this work when different companies have their own logos and designs for their charge points? Is it for government made and owned charge points?

 

[freddym]

Probably need something more like electricity pylons (also the result of a competition) than phone boxes. Or rather something in-between the two - still visible, but not in your face.

Why would Fastned want to use something that looked the same as an Instavolt etc?

 

[electric_dreams]

Why would Fastned want to use something that looked the same as an Instavolt etc?

They wouldn't. tbh, I think the idea's nonsense as you can't really make a chargepoint a particular design unless both the manufacturers and operators are interested. Some sort of standard sign or post that is next to the chargepoints would be a much better idea.

 

[freddym]

They wouldn't. tbh, I think the idea's nonsense as you can't really make a chargepoint a particular design unless both the manufacturers and operators are interested. Some sort of standard sign or post that is next to the chargepoints would be a much better idea.

Correct, yes all that is required is signage.

 

[Mrklaw]

Having the odd iconic telephone box is one thing. But imagine having 10 phone boxes in a row...

Shouldn't the focus therefore be on standardising road markings / signage etc so it is consistent across the country? We can all recognise a disabled bay but in my experience it seems like EV charging bays are marked in very different ways depending on the provider / authority.

then that would be iconic. Doesn’t have to be fancy or stand out. Tube map is pretty utilitarian but is iconic.

I agree with you though - you want something that isnt’ an eyesore if you have 20 in a row on a busy street, but also instantly lets you know what its for. I assume this is for urban centres like with the London lamp post chargers etc.

 

[Mrklaw]

Untethered design for city streets

 

[FlyingHedgehog]

So typical of today's world. Who cares if it does what it should (charge cars without issue), who cares if there's not enough of them. So long as it looks good then that's all that matters.

 

[WithEthyl]

I'm not convinced it's even possible to commission an 'iconic design' because very few designs are truly iconic, most are unexceptional and the iconic ones only become recognised as such over time by the public.

If they want a iconic design DfT would have been better to run an open competition, judged by the public rather than by DfT procurement.