Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is making Britain’s EV ‘charging rooms’ impossible to miss

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen is set to plug into a new mission – to make Britain’s EV ‘charging rooms’ impossible to miss.

The flamboyant designer, famed for transforming drab homes into dazzling spaces, is now turning his attention to the nation’s motorways.

It follows research which found drivers are underestimating the size of the UK’s electric charging network by half – largely because outdated motorway signage rules mean many chargers go unseen.

Unlike traditional petrol stations which can be signposted on major roads, current regulations only allow EV charges to be signposted on certain roads if they meet restricted criteria, leaving electric vehicle drivers in the dark about where to top up.

As a result, thousands of charging locations remain hidden in plain sight – despite being dotted along key routes, retail parks, and service areas across the country.

To help shine a light on the issue, Laurence has teamed up with EV charging network GRIDSERVE [https://www.gridserve.com/], taking on the role of ‘Chief Visibility Officer’ to help make charging points as eye-catching as possible.

Dressed in a fluorescent suit of highlighter yellow, Laurence used his creative flair to design new mobile signs, complete with bold colours and a flattering self-portrait to highlight the ‘shocking’ lack of signage.

The new designs will drive up and down the major roads near charge points, alerting drivers to their nearest EV charger.

He hit the road in a digital, electric ad-van to showcase the designs for the very first time.

At GRIDSERVE’s Electric Forecourt in Stevenage, he chatted to motorists about how to make EV chargers stand out more.

One suggested they were disappointed not to see pink flamingos marking the EV spots, as they are an absolute must.

Laurence said: “The rules around signage for EV chargers are outdated – it should be as natural and visible as a petrol pump.

“Together with GRIDSERVE, I want to spark a little joy into the process of powering up and make the UK’s charging network a design icon in its own right with bright and beautiful signage.

“These are the new pit stops of modern Britain – why wouldn’t we want to celebrate infrastructure like this?

“Your charging experience can be just as vibrant as your journey, especially when you’re filling up with clean, sustainable energy.”

GRIDSERVE’s award-winning Electric Forecourts feature 24/7 charging bays, coffee shops, convenience stores and free WiFi for drivers – but are hard to find due to outdated signage rules.

Daniel Kunkel, the company’s CEO, said: “We know that lots of petrol and diesel drivers have concerns about switching to electric and finding charge points on their journeys.

“However, the UK has one of the fastest-growing charging networks in Europe and at GRIDSERVE we’re proud to be contributing to that with a rollout that focuses on the most powerful chargers at the most convenient ‘on the go’ locations.

“Supporting the charger network with updated signage rules is crucial for accelerating EV adoption and showing drivers that in an EV you have the freedom to make any journey you want to.”