Supporting the green revolution with electric vehicle signs

• 31st December 2021
• Blog
• 4:12 reading time (ish)
• 798 words

The electric vehicle market has boomed over the last few years and today there are almost 300,000 pure-electric and more than 600,000 plug-in models on UK roads.

2020 saw the biggest annual increase in electric vehicle (EV) registrations, marking a 66% increase on 2019. Despite the impact that the pandemic had on general car sales, last year saw major growth for electric vehicles. Today, EV’s hold a 18.3% share of the UK car market.

As consumer demand continues to grow for greener transport, there is greater availability of vehicles, financial support from the government, and ongoing development to improve UK charging point infrastructure.

Going green

As the world becomes more eco-conscious, many people are finding a switch from petrol or diesel to electric or hybrid a simple way to do their bit for the environment.

Electric vehicles have many advantages, with the main being their limited impact on the planet. With no tailpipe, EV’s do not emit any exhaust gases, which reduces local air pollution and improves our health and quality of life.

Investing in green energy also brings major cost efficiencies. Beyond the upfront costs of purchasing an electric vehicle, there are plenty of cost-savings when compared to petrol and diesel. Electric vehicles are incredibly cheap to run, costing less than £1.30 to drive 100 miles and fully electric models are exempt from paying road tax completely. Many councils and workplaces also offer free or lower cost charging and parking benefits.

Keeping you on the road

There are new charge points being installed every day across the UK. Today, there are over 20,000 charging points across the UK. From offices and service stations, to public and private car parks, many venues now offer electric charging points, making it extremely convenient for owners to top up the power to their cars.

The car park is another place that hugely benefits electric vehicle owners. Parking is widely used as an incentive to encourage electric driving. Many car parks offer free or discounted payment options, and most have priority or dedicated parking spaces that are positioned with convenient access. This means that owners can park and top up their vehicle while they go to work or do their weekly grocery shop, for example.

Electric Vehicle signage

Clear and appropriately placed electric vehicle parking signage can help owners navigate their way to the designated charging points and parking bays. It can also help them understand any restrictions and prevent them from being blocked by other road users, parking in the wrong area.

All signage must comply with the instructions outlined in the Department for Transport (DfT) Traffic Signs Manual. This includes the size, symbols and colours that should be used on electric vehicle parking signage.

With numerous electric charging points in operation in different environments and settings, there are several ways to present the accompanying signage. For example, an on-street charging parking bay will require a different symbol to a car park charging space.

Official guidance states that all signage must clearly state that the parking bay is for electric vehicles only. This legend can be varied to say any of the following:

• Electric Vehicle Charging
• Electric Vehicle Charging Only
• Electric Vehicle Charging Point Only
• Electric Vehicle Parking
• Electric Vehicle Parking Only

Electric Vehicle charging and parking signs are usually rectangular in shape, with either a white icon and wording displayed in a green box, or black icons sat on a white background within a green circle, accompanied by white text on a green background.  The icon used is usually a ‘P’ sign for parking or one of the electric vehicle symbols. Signs are available both vertically and horizontally.

Additional information may be added to the sign, including arrows, time restrictions, permit identifiers and the name of the local authority if required. Often the parking symbol and electric vehicle symbol are positioned together to inform owners that they may park and charge their car within the designated bay.

At JPS Online, we have a wide range of signs for electric vehicle parking and charging points. From stand-alone ‘Electric Vehicle Charging’ signs to signs that discourage other road users from parking in designated bays, we can support you in clearly communicating your electric vehicle charging and parking rules and restrictions.

With over 20-years’ experience in creating high-quality signs for a range of environments, we pride ourselves on truly understanding your needs, making sure that we deliver only the best quality finish, on time. If we say we’ll get it done for you, we’ll get it done.

We use the latest technology to ensure the highest standards of quality and can cater for orders of all size – from the very small to large-scale projects. To find out how we can help you present your electric vehicle charging and parking facilities in a clear and concise way, get in touch today on 01285 650441.