Why You Need a Lockable Cable Gully

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly popular, the infrastructure to support them must evolve to meet the needs of a growing and diverse user base. For residents without driveways or off-road parking this can be a sore point, as charging from public EV charging stations is far more expensive than charging at-home.

The high cost of public charging can negate the economic advantages of EVs, and essentially discourage large swathes of the population from investing in an electric vehicle. However, there is a solution: cross-pavement cable gullies like Charge Gully are an innovative solution for safe and convenient EV home charging. However, not all cable gullies are created equal...

The Importance of Security

“An unlocked cable gully presents several risks, especially in busy urban areas or streets with high foot traffic. Someone could easily remove the cable from the channel, whether through curiosity, vandalism, or even malicious intent. This could leave the cable exposed on the pavement, creating a serious trip hazard for pedestrians.”

You may think that as long as the cable sits flush into the gully, keeping it covered and locked wouldn't be a priority - but you'd be wrong. An unlocked cable gully presents several risks, especially in busy urban areas or streets with high foot traffic. Someone could easily remove the cable from the channel, whether through curiosity, vandalism, or even malicious intent. This could leave the cable exposed on the pavement, creating a serious trip hazard for pedestrians.

And of course, an unsecured gully could allow unauthorised users to access the cable, potentially using it to charge their own vehicle without permission - and entirely to your expenses. A lockable cable gully eliminates these risks by ensuring that only the owner can insert and remove their cable.

Meeting Industry Standards for Safety

In public spaces, almost all equipment and installations are designed with security in mind. Existing standards for street ironworks, such as manhole covers and drainage channels, require that they be designed to prevent unauthorised access. These systems often rely on locking mechanisms or specialised tools for operation, ensuring they remain secure and do not pose risks to the public.

At Charge Gully, we firmly believe that cable gullies must adhere to the same principles. A lockable design ensures that the channel remains flush with the pavement, secure, and tamper-proof, as per all the rigorous safety standards expected of other street infrastructure.

Charge Gully’s lockable cable gullies are designed with all these considerations in mind, providing peace of mind for both EV owners and local councils responsible for maintaining public safety.