Charging where the light is: how ubitricity is wiring up our cities

As the streetscape shifts toward electric mobility, one thing becomes crystal clear: our charging infrastructure needs to evolve just as fast as the cars themselves. For many EV enthusiasts and city dwellers, the holy grail of charging is simple - make it accessible, make it invisible, and make it work where people already are. That’s where ubitricity comes in. This Berlin-based pioneer has taken a refreshingly pragmatic approach to EV infrastructure: retrofit the stuff that’s already there. Think lampposts and bollards - mundane bits of urban furniture turned into silent overnight heroes for your battery. Sounds simple? It is. And it isn’t. Let’s take a closer look at how ubitricity is reshaping public EV charging, one streetlight at a time.

The name ubitricity might sound futuristic, but the thinking behind it is all about everyday practicality. A blend of “ubiquitous” and “electricity,” the brand sets out to make EV charging as common and convenient as pulling up to a curb.

Since its founding in 2008 by Frank Pawlitschek and Knut Hechtfischer, ubitricity has consistently championed decentralized, scalable charging that fits into people’s lives without demanding a complete urban redesign. Long before the big OEMs and city planners caught on, the company was already experimenting with the idea that charging should happen where cars are already parked - not in isolated charging parks or motorway lay-bys, but directly outside homes,businesses, and neighborhood shops.

After becoming a subsidiary of Shell in 2021, ubitricity gained the backing to scale quickly—without losing its original, laser-sharp focus on simplicity and integration. Rather than installing bulky, standalone stations, the company looks for ways to transform existing infrastructure into charging touch points. Lampposts already have power lines, they’re already positioned along the curb,and they’re spaced to serve parked cars. So why not turn them into charge points?

The genius lies in the low-impact design. This retrofit philosophy helps cities reduce installation costs, minimize planning procedures, and avoid the kind of visual clutter that tends to raise red flags in historic neighborhoods or tightly regulated street scapes. It's infrastructure-as-it-is, reimagined for the EV age.

Built for the street

Ubitricity’s product lineup reflects this street-first philosophy. The company offers both AC and DC solutions, but it’s the compact AC lantern chargers that are grabbing attention - especially among urban EV drivers without access to private garages. These chargers are specifically engineered to fit into lampposts and other pieces of street furniture, offering a practical answer to the question that keeps many city dwellers from making the switch to electric: “Where am I supposed to plugin?”

Their standard AC charging points deliver between 7 and 22 kW, ideal for vehicles parked for a few hours. The smaller lamppost-integrated models offer up to 5.5 kW - perfect for overnight top-ups. For faster needs, ubitricity also offers DC fast chargers starting at 50 kW, but the company isn’t competing in the“hyper-fast” arms race. Instead, it leans into the rhythms of city life: charge where you live, not where you drive out of your way to refuel.

What also sets ubitricity apart is accessibility. Chargers support a range of authorization methods. Drivers can use e-mobility service providers like Shell Recharge, but there’s also ad-hoc access via QR code or NFC tag - no subscriptions, no waiting for a card in the mail, no barriers to entry. This focus on frictionless user experience isn’t just a nice touch; it’s essential if urban charging is going to be embraced at scale.

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Adoption in the UK and Germany

The UK - especially London - has become a showcase for ubitricity’s street charging concept. With over 7,500 charging points installed, it's now the country’s largest public charging network. That momentum is driven by a clear need: more than 70% of Londoners don’t have access to private parking. Instead of letting that be a barrier to EV adoption, cities tapped into what was already there - existing lampposts wired into the grid, lining residential streets.

The result?Low-impact, high-accessibility infrastructure that blends seamlessly into the urban environment, even in historic neighborhoods. Backed by funding programs like the On-Street Residential Charge point Scheme (ORCS) and a flexible regulatory framework, this approach has allowed cities to expand their charging networks quickly and cost-effectively - without having to redesign entire streets.

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Germany, on the other hand, is taking a more deliberate path. While interest in e-mobility is strong, retrofitting lamp posts isn’t as straightforward. Most streetlights in German cities aren’t compatible out of the box - they require additional hardware mounted externally, which increases both costs and visual impact.

That’s why cities like Berlin are testing the waters with pilot projects, such as the rollout of 1,000 “Heinz” chargers in select districts - compact 3.7 kW units tailored for overnight charging and local grid capacities.

Legal and technical hurdles like Eichrecht, Germany’s strict calibration law, add further complexity, requiring certified, transparent metering. Combined with higher public charging prices and a national strategy focused more on high-speed corridors, Germany’s rollout is more cautious - but not standing still. The groundwork is being laid, just with a different pace and priority mix than in the UK.

Despite the advantages, integrating charging into existing street furniture presents real-world challenges. Many lampposts, especially in older districts, aren’t technically suitable for retrofitting and may require structural upgrades. Local grid capacity must also be carefully managed to avoid overload, particularly in dense urban areas.

Public awareness and ease of use play a role too. For on-street charging to be effective, residents need clear signage,simple access options, and confidence in the system’s reliability.

Part of a bigger picture

Integrating EV charging into the urban streetscape - like ubitricity’s approach - is an important piece of the mobility transition. But it’s not the only one. Across Europe, cities are exploring a mix of strategies, from ultra-fast charging hubs to inductive road segments and battery-swapping stations.

The optimal solution depends on local conditions, but for densely populated areas,retrofitting infrastructure that’s already in place offers a scalable, low-footprint way forward. As EV adoption continues to rise, smart, unobtrusive solutions like this won’t just be nice to have - they’ll be key to making electric mobility work for everyone.