On Sutherland Avenue in London, ordinary lamp posts now serve as curbside charging points for electric vehicles. The project uses street lighting to build a practical charging network, and the model is spreading across the UK. Germany and Portugal are also expanding similar schemes. Using existing street infrastructure gives cities a way to serve residents without private parking.
Data cited by elespanol motor show that around 70% of London’s vehicles are parked on public streets overnight. Electric car sales are climbing: FACONAUTO reported a 5.8% rise to 916,609 units over four consecutive months in 2025, increasing the need for accessible charging. The lamp-post solution offers charging at up to 22 kW and uses existing electrical infrastructure. Drivers need to bring their own cables. The discreet installations blend into the streetscape without disrupting pedestrian flow or the city’s appearance.
The first major rollout took place on Sutherland Avenue, which was even renamed “Electric Avenue W9” to mark the change. Siemens and Ubitricity worked with Westminster City Council on the project, which has since expanded into residential neighbourhoods. Westminster’s continued commitment to the model is reflected in a council decision approved on 12 November 2024. The authority awarded Ubitricity Distributed Energy Systems UK Ltd a three-year concession to operate and maintain its existing on-street charging network, effective from 20 November, with an option to extend for two more years. The council described the service as an existing network of “shared power supply (or lamp column) charge points” established for Westminster residents.
The arrangement shows how lamp-post charging can move beyond a pilot and become a continuing municipal service. Westminster assessed the operator’s proposal on customer pricing and service quality, also weighing the revenue it would bring to the council. The authority described it as the most economically advantageous bid. The concession gives the borough a formal role in overseeing an established network, while a private provider handles day-to-day operation and maintenance.
Spain, but, has struggled to replicate this success. In 2021, Valencia launched a pilot with 22 lamp-post chargers, but regulatory and technical hurdles stalled the initiative. Despite growing demand, the project was ultimately deemed unsuccessful, and widespread street charging remains a distant prospect for Spanish drivers. Regional figures show broader expansion in public charging: the Valencian Community had 5,671 public points by 30 September 2026, up from 4,116 two years earlier. That growth reflects the wider rollout, while the lamp-post pilot remains a separate part of the story.
Spain’s public charging network is growing, but setbacks persist. ANFAC’s Electromobility Barometer put the number of operational public charging points at 56,682 on 30 June 2026, with 1,605 added during the second quarter. The same figures counted 17,821 installed points that were not yet operating. Reported obstacles included grid-connection and approval delays. Around 70% of the network was described as AC charging rated at up to 22 kW. High-power stations of 250 kW or more remained relatively scarce, with 2,806 operational. Spain’s infrastructure score stands at 26.9 out of 100, well below the European average of 40.1.
Third-quarter figures show continued growth and a persistent activation gap: Spain had 58,075 operational public charging points, while 17,965 installed points remained non-operational. The quarter added 1,393 operational points. Additions during the first nine months of 2026 were reported to be 62.6% lower than over the same period in 2025. Equipment faults and damaged facilities contribute to the gap, as do delays connecting sites to distribution networks. The distinction matters: the headline network total does not, on its own, measure practical availability.
As European cities race to modernise, the contrast is stark. The UK and its partners are integrating charging into daily life, while Spain’s progress is held back by the work of connecting and commissioning infrastructure, not just installing it. The situation echoes wider trends in the automotive sector, where international expansion is reshaping the market alongside new idea. For example, Chery Automobile’s recent move to shift production to Barcelona with Ebro Motors resulted in overseas revenue surpassing domestic sales, showing how global strategies are influencing local realities. More on this shift can be found in the analysis of Chery’s expansion in Spain.
For now, most Spanish drivers cannot count on charging a car at the nearest lamp post. Spain’s ability to overcome regulatory and technical barriers will shape how quickly it catches up with its European neighbours and when its cities can offer electric vehicle owners the same convenience.
