Electric vehicle charging points

• Reduce carbon emissions: EVs play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Unlike vehicles that rely on fossil fuels and internal combustion engines, EVs run on electricity, producing zero tailpipe emissions. As the UK’s electricity supply becomes greener, EVs will eventually be running on zero emission power as well.
• Combating air pollution: By switching to EVs, which produce zero tailpipe emissions, we can reduce air pollution and help reduce its negative impacts. Cleaner air means lower rates of respiratory diseases, improved overall health, and a better quality of life for everyone.
• Energy efficiency: Compared to internal combustion engines, electric vehicles are more energy-efficient. EVs convert a higher percentage of electrical energy into power at the wheels, typically around 80%. In contrast, petrol/diesel vehicles waste a significant amount of energy as heat. As a result they typically convert less than one-third of fuel to power the car.. This higher energy efficiency means that EVs require less energy overall to travel the same distance, leading to reduced energy consumption. 
• Reduced noise pollution: EVs also contribute to reducing noise pollution. Unlike internal combustion engines, electric motors operate quietly, significantly reducing noise levels during transportation
• Cheaper running costs: A full charge in a pure electric vehicle will give a typical range of around 220 miles and will cost approximately £23 if charging at home. Driving 220 miles in a petrol or diesel car will cost around £41 in fuel, which can be 3 or 4 times more than the cost of charging the electric car. The cost savings are most significant when owners charge at home and have access to an off-peak overnight electricity tariff.
• Servicing and maintenance saving: There are fewer mechanical components in an electric vehicle compared with conventional vehicles. This often results in lower servicing and maintenance costs.
• Taxes and charges: Plug-in vehicles emit fewer or zero emissions. This means they will be charged less in clean air zones. These zones are being set up in the UK and London's ultra low emission zone (ULEZ).
• Electric cars are easy to drive: Electric cars are simple to drive. They have only one gear, so you do not need to keep shifting between gears. It also means that electric cars don’t stall. Electric cars only have two pedals – brake and accelerator – much like an automatic car. With an electric car, the accelerator can do most of the job because of its regenerative braking mechanism. This is a way of recovering energy when you let the car slow down on its own rather than applying the brakes.

• Battery-electric vehicles: A vehicle powered only by electricity, also known as a ‘pure’ or 100% electric car. The vehicle is charged by an external power source, i.e. at a chargepoint. These vehicles do not produce any tailpipe emissions.
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle: This is a vehicle that has a battery, electric drive motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE). It can be driven using the ICE, the electric drive motor, or both, and can be recharged from an external power source.
• Extended range electric vehicle: These are a version of plug-in hybrids. An E-REV combines a battery, an electric drive motor and a small petrol or diesel generator. The electric motor always drives the wheels, with the ICE acting as a generator when the battery is depleted.

The council does not permit the trailing of cables across the footway with or without a cable protector. This is stated under Section 178 of the Highways Act 1980, as follows:

Restriction on placing rails, beams etc. over highways:

“No person shall fix or place any overhead beam, rail, pipe, cable, wire or other similar apparatus over, along or across a highway without the consent of the highway authority for the highway, and the highway authority may attach to their consent such reasonable terms and conditions as they think fit.”

A power cable trailing across a footway is a potential trip hazard for pedestrians, especially for those who are visually impaired, disabled or with restricted mobility. If someone tripped and injured themselves, you could be prosecuted and there may be a liability under civil law.

It is important to consider public safety and existing legislation when placing the cable from the power supply in your home to your vehicle. Any legal liability arising from the placement of the cable is your responsibility.

The trial is not currently at a stage where it is ready to be launched. We are working through an approach that will provide our residents the best value and choice. This webpage will be updated when further details are known.

There are many factors to consider in deciding whether a cross-pavement charging channel will be suitable for your charging needs. Also, it may not be possible to install a channel at your property. Please consider the following:

• The pavement to be crossed must be public highway.
• You must have access to a parking space outside your house on a frequent basis – no parking space will be allocated and cannot be reserved by any means.
• Vehicles should be parked as close to the property as possible – a maximum of two vehicle spaces from the channel.
• Channels cannot be installed where there are parking restrictions or safety concerns.
• Channels cannot be installed across a grass verge or other nearby structures or obstacles – a 2.5m buffer is required to avoid the electrocution risk of simultaneous contact.
• Your property must sit back from the footway so that the EV charging unit does not overhang the footway.
• A wall-mounted EV charger would need to be installed at the property – planning permission may be required.
• A Section 178 licence agreement would need to be signed by the resident – this agreement explains the liability and day-to-day maintenance required of the resident.

Usually, flats have allocated parking areas away from the public highway.

We recommend residents request their management company to make arrangements for electric vehicle charge points to be installed.

If the pavement is privately owned, you do not need to apply to the council for a cable channel. You will need to contact the landowner and seek permission to install.