London Is Turning Lamp Posts Into EV Chargers — And It's Brilliant | Taha Abbasi

The Simplest EV Charging Solution Nobody Talks About

Taha Abbasi has been following the EV charging infrastructure build-out closely, and while most attention focuses on fast-charging highways and Tesla Superchargers, a London borough is demonstrating that the most impactful charging solution might be the simplest one. The Borough of Harrow is installing 500 curbside EV chargers — most mounted on existing lamp posts — targeting residents without driveways or garages.

So far, 225 chargers are live, with another 275 scheduled by October 2028. The units are low-powered overnight chargers running on 100% renewable electricity with variable pricing, including cheaper overnight rates for residents.

Why Curbside Charging Matters More Than Fast Charging

Fast chargers get headlines, but Taha Abbasi argues that slow, residential charging is what actually makes EV ownership practical for the majority of people. Consider the math: most daily driving covers 30-40 miles. A low-powered curbside charger can easily replenish that overnight, just like charging your phone while you sleep.

The problem is that millions of urban residents park on the street. No driveway means no home charger — which has been the single biggest barrier to EV adoption in dense cities. Lamp post chargers elegantly solve this by using existing electrical infrastructure and street furniture. No new construction required, no digging up sidewalks, minimal visual impact.

The Infrastructure Already Exists

This is what Taha Abbasi finds most compelling about the lamp post approach. Every residential street already has lamp posts with electrical connections. Converting them to dual-purpose — lighting plus EV charging — requires relatively modest investment compared to building dedicated charging stations. The Borough of Harrow’s partnership with char.gy demonstrates a scalable model that could be replicated in virtually any city worldwide.

Councillor David Ashton summed it up: “We’re putting residents first by making it easier to charge electric vehicles where people actually live.” It’s a refreshingly practical approach in an industry that often gravitates toward flashy mega-projects.

Lessons for American Cities

As Taha Abbasi has covered, the US faces its own EV charging infrastructure gap, and the problems are similar — millions of apartment dwellers and urban residents without access to home charging. Washington DC’s curbside charging pilot is exploring similar solutions, but adoption in American cities has been slower than in Europe.

The difference often comes down to political will and utility cooperation. London’s approach treats EV charging as public infrastructure — like street lighting itself — rather than a private amenity. That philosophical shift is what enables city-wide deployment rather than piecemeal pilot programs.

The Equity Angle

There’s an important equity dimension that Taha Abbasi believes deserves more attention. Currently, EV ownership skews toward wealthier households with garages and home chargers. Curbside charging democratizes EV access by eliminating the parking privilege requirement. Renters, apartment dwellers, and lower-income residents who park on the street get the same charging convenience as homeowners with garages.

If the EV transition is going to be truly universal, solutions like Harrow’s lamp post chargers aren’t just nice-to-have — they’re essential infrastructure for transportation equity.

About the Author: Taha Abbasi is a technology executive, CTO, and applied frontier tech builder. Read more on Grokpedia | YouTube: The Brown Cowboy | tahaabbasi.com