Copyrights: Top left and bottom left: Arch Stanton, Right: Twitter

Trailing a cable across the pavement, even with a cable protector, leaves a bump on the road which pauses a safety hazard for pedestrians, wheelchairs and people with visual impairment. Suspending a cable above the pavement is very dangerous too, it could have serious safety consequences if someone was to excessively pull or hang on it and overstretch it.

It is not surprising that residents without a driveway are tempted to use unsafe charging methods. The latest ZapMap Index survey (June 2023) shows that electric vehicle (EV) drivers using public chargers spend £1130 more per year than those who can charge from a domestic charger.

The Law

Under the Highways Act 1980, Part IX Lawful and Unlawful Interference with Highways and Streets, it is illegal for any person to place or run a cable or wire along or across a public highway. The council’s Highway Authority has the power to make you remove the cable and fine anyone who is in breach with the Act.

Worse, if you did run a cable unsafely and any issues arose —such as pedestrians tripping and injuring themselves, or wheelchair users and prams being unable to pass— you would be held liable and potentially face a hefty claim from a personal injury lawyer.

Cross Pavement Technologies

Fortunately, new technologies enable you to run your charging cable across the pavement safely. There are several different options including:

Cable channels - allow a charging cable to run across the pavement without causing any tripping hazard or obstruction for pavement users.
Overhead solutions - involve suspending charging cables over the pavement so they do not limit accessibility for pavement users.
Ground sockets - allow floor-mounted electric vehicle charging via a dedicated lance. The removable lance is inserted into a permanent socket in the pavement when charging is required.

How Do EV Cable Channels Work?

Cable channels are embedded in the pavement and sit flush with the surface of the pavement so there is no trip hazard. The charging cable is inserted inside the channel enabling users to run the charging cable between a home charger and a vehicle parked by the kerb safely.

There are various ways to secure the cable within the channel, including flexible rubber cover, brushes (like the type you have in a letter box installed in your door to keep out drafts), and rigid lockable lids. The safest and most secure option is a lockable rigid channel lid such as that provided by Charge Gully.

How Are EV Cable Channels Installed?

The installation generally takes less than two hours; however, the process depends on the cable gully provider.

At Charge Gully, we only use contractors approved by your local authority that hold the adequate New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 certification and have an adequate level of public liability insurance. We follow a stringent installation process including:

Carrying out a visual survey to confirm that there are no obstructions (such as tree roots, utility hole covers, dropped kerbs, etc.)
Carrying out all utility surveys.
Cutting out a narrow groove within the surface course of the pavement above existing utilities.
Reinstatement of the pavement surface in accordance with the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH) 4th Edition, which prescribes the materials to use, expected standard of workmanship, and performance standard to be complied with.
Should the pavement be uneven, the groove is made slightly wider to create a smooth transition either side of the channel. High points can be locally ground down and low points filled in leaving the pavement safer than it was before.

Government Policy and Grant

The UK government's policy paper, The Plan For Drivers, outlines several measures to encourage the deployment of cross-pavement solutions and to make it easier for people without driveways to charge their vehicles at home.

There is currently an Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant for Households with On-Street Parking, which provides EV drivers across the UK with support towards the costs of the purchase and installation of EV chargepoints at residential properties when also installing a cross-pavement charging solution.

Who Does It Benefit?

Installing cross-pavement charging solutions for EVs benefits everyone – local authorities, residents, and the community.

It's beneficial to local authorities as it's privately funded, helps them contribute to meeting climate and net zero targets, and there's no need to provide new expensive grid connections.

Local residents enjoy the convenience of home charging and access to ultra-cheap domestic electricity tariffs. They can also access free charging via their solar panels and tariffs like Octopus Energy's Power Ups. Residents can also earn some extra money from sharing their charger via community sharing apps like GoPlugable. Finally having a cable channel installed is likely to increase the property's value.

There are also many benefits to the broader community, including reducing the loss of public parking space due to dropped curb conversions and dedicated parking spaces for public chargers, and encouraging the switch to EVs in denser areas typically with a small proportion of driveways but most affected by air quality issues.

Leaving my car charging overnight

Most people charge their car overnight ready to use in the morning and when the EV tariff rates are cheapest. But what if someone decided to take the cable out of the channel and create a trip hazard?

That is why our cable channel comes with a locking mechanism which prevents anyone from tampering with your cable, which would leave you exposed if someone tripped on the trailing cable.

How to get a Charge Gully

Do you want to switch to an electric vehicle but don't have a driveway? There are several cross-pavement options available and Charge Gully offers a secure and cost-effective option.

Best of all, several councils around the country are already working with Charge Gully to arrange pilot schemes. Visit our Get Started page to find out how you get involved.

How to Charge an Electric Car from Home Without a Driveway: The Definitive Guide