Cross-pavement EV charging solutions such as those offered by Kerbo Charge and Gul-e, which allow those without a private driveway to safely run a cable from their property to their electric car on the street, have long been seen as a key enabler in allowing more people to confidently switch to an electric car, allowing them to benefit from much cheaper domestic energy rates compared to the price of public chargers. Installation could now be more affordable and faster too, with reduced planning regulations put in place by the UK Government this week.
Entry price to on-street home charging cut, as planning laws are watered down
The changes mean homeowners will no longer need to seek planning permission to install a cross-pavement charging solution on the pavement outside their property, which the government claims could save around £300 in related planning costs during the installation process.
Without the need for planning permission which has taken effect this week, the process of getting a cross-pavement charging solution installed at your house will not only be cheaper but likely faster, without the need to wait for a council decision on whether approval is granted.
In theory, this should mean that more EV drivers or would-be EV drivers can benefit from home charging prices of well under 10p per kWh in some cases, compared to the average ‘slow’ public charging rate of 54p per kWh. However, there are still limitations to how far this new rule change goes. People living in conservation areas will still be required to apply for planning permission to install such a solution, and local authorities will still manage the process of street work permissions and safety approval. With some councils yet to offer this service, it means some areas in the UK are still locked out from being able to install a cross-pavement EV charging solution.
Vicky Edmonds, CEO of EVA England, commented on the change:
“This might look like a small planning change, but for someone without a driveway, it could make the difference between being able to afford an electric car and ruling one out altogether. Removing the need for planning permission for cross-pavement charging is a really welcome and meaningful step towards a fairer transition.
Our research found that 60% of petrol and diesel drivers without off-street parking would never consider an EV. Being able to connect a car parked on the street to cheaper home electricity could help change that. It’s now up to local authorities and landlords to make these solutions easier to access in practice.”
