Re: From what I can recall ....
"I suspect they're simply looking at the cabinets as a thing that already occupies a spot on the street, fences may have been built around them. "
They are also a junction point where it would be very simple to lead out a small trench and conduit to the road side where a small post can be placed that has the connection point so there's no stringing cables across the pavement. There are already schemes where the charging lead has a wireless meter contained so an EV owner can have the charges billed to their home electricity account which means there isn't attached leads that can be vandalized and require a service visit.
This isn't meant as a silver bullet to conquer all charging issues, but it is a way to reuse existing infrastructure to add another option. Ideally, all new home builds should be required to have off street parking for at least 2 cars (welcome to the 21st century). The same could be a requirement for a substantial renovation as well given certain conditions. Government should require itself to install charging at public buildings and replace most ICE passenger vehicles and many light trucks with EV's. When you have to go stand in a line to get a form to fill out so you can stand in yet another line, the least they can do is put some miles in your battery.
While the 7kW figure is batted around, it might be better to set the EVSE's to no more than half that. It allows more people to get a charge for a given supply amount and 3.5kW for 10 hours is a 50% top up for many EV's. It might be good to take a 7kW trunk and divide it three ways when three cars are plugged in and increase the rate for cars still charging as some stop drawing power.