EV Parking Bays in Central London
Managing EV bays in a busy city centre is a juggling act: high traffic, strict access windows, and the need for unmistakable, durable markings that keep chargers available for the drivers who need them. This project shows how we delivered coloured infill, crisp symbols and compliant bay lines for a Central London site—without disrupting operations.
If you’re responsible for EV infrastructure, your goal is simple: maximise bay availability, minimise misuse, and keep the site looking premium. The playbook below is how you get there—survey, specify, phase, and hand back bays that work hard every day.
Project Snapshot & Outcome
Location: Central London mixed-use site. Scope: EV charging bays with coloured infill, bay outlines, EV symbols, directional arrows and wayfinding to chargers. Materials: MMA cold-plastic with anti-slip aggregates for the deck; preformed thermoplastic EV symbols and acrylic for select vertical faces and stencil work.
Outcome: High-contrast bays that stand out at a glance, improved turnover at chargers, and visibly better compliance—drivers recognise EV-only spaces, and site teams spend less time policing misuse.
Your Story: The Facilities Manager
You’re the one who hears about blocked chargers and confused visitors. Faded paint costs you reputation and revenue. By choosing durable systems, clear symbols and a phasing plan that respects your access windows, you turn a maintenance headache into a quick win that residents, tenants and visitors notice the same day.
On this job, courtyard access, noise constraints and delivery schedules could have caused delays. Instead, we surveyed early, agreed work windows with building management, and phased the programme so chargers came back online fast—with crisp, long-lasting results.
Challenges & Solutions
1) Tight access & city-centre logistics
Central London sites often have limited working hours, shared access routes and strict delivery slots.
Solution: We mobilised in smaller teams, used compact equipment, and staged deliveries to fit building management restrictions—all documented in a short method statement and RAMS pack.
Guidance: Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA)
2) Clarity & compliance for EV-only bays
If markings are unclear, ICE vehicles occupy EV spaces and chargers sit idle.
Solution: We specified coloured MMA infill with EV-only legends and large EV symbols so drivers recognise restrictions instantly. Wayfinding arrows and charger icons help first-timers find bays quickly.
References: DfT Traffic Signs Manual, Chapter 5 (PDF)
3) Wet weather & fast return to service
Outdoor bays need coatings that handle frequent turning and reopen fast to keep chargers earning.
Solution: MMA cold-plastic was used for its chemical/abrasion resistance and rapid cure profile. We removed masking at tack-set for crisp edges and reopened bays in phases.
EV grants & policy: OZEV grants & guidance
4) Safety around live electrical equipment
Working near chargepoints requires coordination with installers and attention to cable routes and plinths.
Solution: We protected pedestals and cable runs, kept clearances around bollards/kerbs, and coordinated with the client’s electrical contractor on isolations and access.
Best practice: IET Code of Practice for EV Charging
Technical Specification (What We Used & Why)
MMA Cold-Plastic (coloured infill & bay outlines): Two-component, cold-applied resin (resin + peroxide hardener) with excellent adhesion to asphalt and concrete, strong chemical resistance and high abrasion performance. Pigmented infill provides standout colour for EV-only zones; anti-slip aggregates enhance wet-grip under braking/turning.
- Typical film build: 1.5–3.0 mm depending on area and aggregate loading.
- Rapid cure after mixing; catalyst ratio adjusted to ambient temperature.
- Ideal for: bay backgrounds, outlines, hatching and high-wear legends.
- Benefits: durability, colour stability, fast return to service.
Preformed Thermoplastic EV Symbols: Factory-cut symbols ironed onto the surface for consistent size and legibility. Excellent for rapid installs and repeatable layouts across multiple bays.
- Ideal for: EV logos, arrows, “EV ONLY” legends.
- Benefits: crisp edges, uniform branding, quick application.
Acrylic Line Marking (vertical faces & detail): Fast-dry acrylic for kerb tops, wheel stops and selected stencils on vertical faces where spray control is advantageous.
- Benefits: clean edges with masking, quick handling, good opacity.
Related reading:
Car Park Line Marking ·
Outdoor Hatching ·
Surface Preparation (Grinding & Shot-Blasting).
Our Process for EV Bay Programmes
- Survey & layout plan: Confirm charger locations, cable routes, bay count, symbol set, and wayfinding arrows.
- Permits & phasing: Agree access windows with building management; sequence bays so chargers remain available where possible.
- Surface prep: Degrease, mechanically abrade where required for adhesion; verify dryness and surface profile.
- Set-out & masking: Snap lines; mask backgrounds and symbols; protect plinths, bollards and pedestals.
- Apply systems: Lay MMA infill and outlines; install preformed symbols; apply acrylic to verticals.
- Cure & reopen: Remove masking at tack-set for crisp edges; reopen in phases to keep chargers earning.
- Sign-off & aftercare: Walk-through with client; provide maintenance guidance and optional warranties.
Benefits You Keep Long-Term
Clear, durable EV markings reduce bay misuse, increase charger uptime and present a premium first impression. Longer-lasting materials stretch repaint cycles and cut disruption, while consistent symbols help new visitors understand the rules in seconds.
Net result: fewer complaints, more charging throughput, and an asset that looks looked-after.
Next Steps
Ready to refresh EV bays or roll out a new scheme across multiple locations? We’ll survey, specify and deliver a phased programme that fits your windows and keeps chargers online.
Get a Quote
Book a Site Survey
Useful external resources:
DfT Traffic Signs Manual, Chapter 5 (PDF) ·
OZEV grants & guidance ·
IET Code of Practice for EV Charging.
