STREET lights that double as charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) have been showcased at MINI’s Oxford plant during the city’s second Low Carbon Oxford Week.

In a move to show how infrastructure could pave the way to mass adoption of EVs, BMW’s ‘Light & Charge’ system was demonstrated for the first time in the UK. The system is the outcome of a pilot project developed by MINI’s parent company using a state-of-the-art LED street light that combines energy-efficient lighting with affordable EV charging.

The case BMW’s system makes to local authorities is that it can significantly reduce energy consumption while its integrated charge point provides a cost-effective and simple solution which can be grafted straight onto the existing street lighting infrastructure, substantially increasing the number of public charging stations.

EV charging stations can be set up at any location where suitable parking is available, simply by replacing conventional street lights with Light & Charge systems.

It can be installed anywhere and its modular design can to be tailored to different locations. Up to four LED modules can be used to provide night-time lighting on main roads, while one or two modules are sufficient to provide lighting on side streets and in residential areas. As is already the case with vehicle headlights, LED technology allows more targeted light distribution with highly uni­form illumination to increase road safety and is optimised for minimum glare and light pollution.