Make electric charge point signs green, say drivers

Blue signs that indicate an electric vehicle (EV) charge point location should be turned green to make them more prominent, an AA survey suggests.

More than eight out of 10 drivers (85%), from the 17,500 that took part in the study, preferred a design created by the AA Signs team, which was pitched against the existing sign approved by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Existing blue EV charge point sign

New green EV charge point sign

The analysis was carried out following a survey in December 2019, where nine out of 10 drivers (89%) said there should be a universal sign to indicate where charge points are.

The AA claims that changing the sign could help people, who perceive there to be a lack of charge points, make the switch to an EV, while also reducing the number of cases where a petrol or diesel vehicle parks in a charging bay.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, explained: “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.”

Cousens concluded: “It may seem such a simple, low key change but sometimes it’s all that’s needed to help make a big difference.”

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