Like many electric car drivers, my experiences of the public charging network have been hit and miss. While some operators are doing a brilliant job of helping us charge on the go, others are falling woefully behind, and one of my big concerns is that I frequently feel vulnerable when I’m charging away from home.

I know I’m not the only electric car driver who has struggled to find a charging point in an unlit and remote corner of a car park, having to use the torch from my mobile phone as a light source to try and connect.

That’s why, ahead of this year’s International Women's Day, Electrifying.com is teaming up with WalkSafe - an app which allows users to alert contacts if they’re feeling unsafe while in public - to apply pressure on local authorities and charge point operators to take simple and effective steps to help users, irrespective of gender, to feel safer when charging their cars in public.

Sales of electric cars are on the rise, with one in five buyers making the switch in January and this means more people than ever - even those with charge points at home - are charging on the public network. As we accelerate towards an electric future, I believe it’s crucial that charging your car is as safe, convenient and reliable as it is to fill up with fuel.

With that in mind I’ve outlined a four-point plan, which I’m calling on charging point providers and local authorities to voluntarily commit to upholding:

1. Good lighting at charge points, particularly those on quieter streets or in remote places, including public car parks.

2. CCTV to be fitted and working in non-residential locations where charge points are sited.

3. Improved signage to help drivers find chargers, including the adoption of what3words to pinpoint exactly where all charging locations are.

4. To ensure that broken charge points are fixed and operational within a set period of time, helping to alleviate charging anxiety and avoid drivers getting stranded.

Some public charging operators are already thinking of the safety of their customers

​The government agrees that the current situation is far from ideal and Transport Minister Trudy Harrison endorsed our plan, saying “As we transition to electric vehicle driving, I am absolutely committed to ensuring everyone is safe and feels safe when charging their EV, no matter who or where they are.”

She added, “We’ve recently held consultations to seek the public’s views on improving reliability at public charge points and ensuring people feel safe while charging. I look forward to publishing our response to these consultations soon.”

Emma Kay, the co-founder of WalkSafe, told us that WalkSafe is the app that “shouldn’t have to exist but sadly it’s very much needed, as we have seen an epidemic in violence towards women and girls. Better street lighting and safer spaces for drivers to charge their cars is a must as more and more of us choose electric vehicles.”

We are talking to charge point operators to ask for their assurances and gather ideas on how we can improve safety for everyone using the network. You can be sure we will report back on new developments.