Coming soon to car parks and shopping malls in the UK are metal trees featuring a seven-meter canopy of solar panels that generate electricity. These innovative structures, created by SolarBotanic Trees, a British startup, utilize nano photovoltaic "leaves" to harness the sun's energy. The excess energy can be stored in a battery housed within the tree's trunk. The primary purpose of these solar trees is to provide a power source for charging electric vehicles (EVs). SolarBotanic Trees recently completed a half-scale prototype and plans to construct and test a full-size version. Commercial production is expected to commence by the end of this year.
The UK has been experiencing rapid growth in EV charging infrastructure, with over 40,000 public charging points installed by April 2023, marking a 37% increase compared to the previous year, as reported by ZapMap, an EV mapping service. However, this expansion still falls short of meeting demand. The UK's Climate Change Committee estimates that by 2032, around 325,000 charging points will be required to adequately support the rising number of electric vehicles on the road.
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