Skip advert
Advertisement

Parking spaces with electric car chargers should have green signs

Having different coloured signage for parking spaces with EV chargers would make them stand out and help prevent ‘ICE-ing’

Parking spaces with electric car chargers should have green signage to make them stand out, eight out of 10 drivers say.

A significant obstacle to electric car ownership is a perceived lack of public charge points, even though there are more of these than there are fuel station forecourts in the UK. With this in mind, 85 per cent of 17,628 AA members who were surveyed in February 2020 said that parking spaces fitted with EV chargers should be given special green signage in order to make them stand out.

The standard sign for an EV charging bay, as approved by the Department for Transport, uses a standard blue ‘P’ symbol. An alternative design, created by AA Signs, changes this to green. It is thought that this will increase driver awareness of EV charging bays and help prevent ‘ICE-ing’ where a petrol or diesel car parks in such a bay, preventing EV drivers from charging.

Advertisement - Article continues below

It follows 89 per cent of 17,643 AA members surveyed in December 2019 agreeing that there should be a single universal sign to indicate where EV charging points are located.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, commented: “Drivers believe there are a lack of charging points, but the case is they are hidden in plain sight. While fuel forecourts have the benefit of large totem poles, charge points can blend into the background.

“Changing to a green parking sign will help them stand out and reassure drivers who are thinking about buying an EV that there are more charge points than they think.

“We have also seen that charge points keeping the blue parking sign have accidentally fooled drivers into parking in a charging bay and have ‘ICE’d-out’ electric cars. It may seem such a simple, low key change but sometimes it’s all that’s needed to help make a big difference.”

Check out all the new cars due before the end of the year...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best electric car charging stations 2024: UK's top charger networks rated by EV owners
Best electric car charging stations 2024 - header

Best electric car charging stations 2024: UK's top charger networks rated by EV owners

The bad, the good and the outstanding; you rank the major players in the expanding UK charging network
Features
13 Nov 2024
Should I buy an electric car? The pros and cons of owning an EV today
MINI Hatch - case study

Should I buy an electric car? The pros and cons of owning an EV today

Wondering if it’s worth buying an electric car? Here’s everything you need to know
Tips & advice
10 Jul 2024
Mercedes EQE review
Mercedes EQE 350 - front tracking

Mercedes EQE review

The Mercedes EQE is an all-electric E-Class alternative and offers enormous range and slick on-board tech
In-depth reviews
8 Jul 2024
New Citroen C3 priced from £17,790, with all-electric e-C3 just £4k more
Citroen e-C3 - full front

New Citroen C3 priced from £17,790, with all-electric e-C3 just £4k more

Citroen’s ambitious pricing confirmed, this is one of the UK’s most affordable electric cars
News
30 May 2024

Most Popular

Skoda Elroq review
Skoda Elroq - front

Skoda Elroq review

The Skoda Elroq is even more appealing than the bigger Skoda Enyaq, and just as brilliant
In-depth reviews
9 Dec 2024
Suicidally, Jaguar is opening the door for Tesla and BYD to pick off the best of its dealerships
Opinion - Jaguar

Suicidally, Jaguar is opening the door for Tesla and BYD to pick off the best of its dealerships

Mike Rutherford thinks it's been a difficult few months for the British car industry
Opinion
8 Dec 2024
ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers
Nissan Cube

ZEV Mandate to spoil Christmas for 1,000s of petrol and diesel car buyers

Got an ICE car on order? Don’t bet on collecting it before the New Year…
News
10 Dec 2024