Engineers braved Thursday’s rain to install new electric vehicle chargers on Longwood Drive in Roehampton, replacing units that had become increasingly unreliable after six to seven years of service.
The Source London fast chargers, operated by Total Energies, are among the dedicated bay charging points that supplement Wandsworth’s extensive lamp column network. Workers set up temporary tents to protect the equipment from the weather while completing the installation.
“The old units had been in for six or seven years and were getting more and more unreliable,” one engineer told Putney.news. “These are the latest models. Should be finished and operational today.”
The upgrade comes as EV drivers in the borough face a complex charging landscape. Wandsworth operates approximately 1,346 lamp column chargers across two rival networks requiring separate apps, plus additional fast and rapid charging points like those on Longwood Drive.
While the fast charger upgrades represent straightforward infrastructure improvement, drivers using the borough’s lamp column network have seen costs soar. Our investigation last week revealed that 613 chargers transferred to new operator char.gy now cost 59p per kWh during the day, up from 24p under the previous contract – a 146% increase.
The council awarded the char.gy contract without public scrutiny or committee debate, in contrast to a rival ubitricity contract that received full Transport Committee examination.
EV drivers face further cost pressures ahead. The Autumn Budget announced a new 3p per mile road charge from April 2028, while electric vehicles will lose their London Congestion Charge exemption on 2 January, though drivers can claim a 25% discount.
Residents can report faulty Source London chargers through the Total Energies website or app.
