Nissan & Ecotricity want EV charging signage installed on UK roads

Nissan and Ecotricity are calling on the government to install signage on UK roads directing drivers of electric cars to the nearest EV charging point.

Battery electric cars may still be a real rarity on UK roads (nothing but the Nissan LEAF really sells in any numbers) but with the rise and rise of plug-in hybrids there are an increasing number of UK drivers who could benefit from being able to plug-in and recharge when they’re out and about.

Of course, for an EV driver, the need to plug-in when you’re travelling anything more than locally is actually a must, so we understand the campaign launched by Nissan and Ecotricity (providers of EV charging points) to get the government to splash out on new road signage in the UK pointing drivers to the nearest EV charging point.

Nissan point out that there are now around 9,000 charging points in the UK, and drivers need to know here they are and that it’s the government’s responsibility to provide the information.

Unfortunately, Nissan chooses to cite other signage that is far less useful – like ‘Toads Crossing’ and ‘Low Flying Helicopter’ – but which are warning signs, not information ones, so it’s a bit of a moot point.

Still, there’s some logic to the call for EV signage, so perhaps Nissan, and others, should put their hands in their pockets and pay for it? Or make sure every EV and PHEV has Sat Nav with the charging point locations clearly marked, or get drivers to use their Smartphones.

It’s not rocket science.