EV kerb chargers are a game-changer, say drivers

Chris Stanton said home charging was about 10 times cheaper than using a public system

Drivers taking part in a trial to charge their electric vehicles at home via a pavement gully say the new system is "a game-changer".

Sarah lives in a terrace house in Suffolk that does not have a drive, meaning she was previously relying on public chargers.

"I wrote to the council to say it's really difficult getting out and about with the public chargers, and they invited me to join this scheme," said Sarah, who is registered disabled.

Suffolk County Council is trialling the use of cross-pavement channels that allow cables to run between properties and vehicles without creating the risk of tripping.

The council received £5.9m from the government to develop on-street charging points across the county.

The authority said 25% of Suffolk households did not have drives.

"That absence of convenient charging can be a big obstacle to EV ownership," said Philip Faircloth-Mutton, the council's cabinet member for environment, communities and equality.

"We have a track record of being pioneering with electric vehicle infrastructure in Suffolk, and this is another exciting opportunity we're exploring."

'It's changed everything'

Sarah got her electric vehicle through the Motability Scheme.

"Because of my mobility needs, I needed to take that vehicle – and I'd wanted to get an electric car for a while. You have to get real and think of the planet," she said, adding that public charging "was not practical for someone with health problems".

"What are you supposed to do while you wait? It's not always convenient to go shopping."

Now she can park at the disabled bay outside her home and plug in with no hassle.

"I feel so much peace. It's much more convenient and, incredibly, so much cheaper. It's a game-changer. It's changed everything for me," she said.

Sarah said she was thrilled to be invited to join the trial in Suffolk

Chris Stanton, who lives in Bury St Edmunds, said the scheme was "brilliant", and he had received no complaints from his neighbours.

"The council paid for the installation of a pavement channel and I paid for the home charger," he said.

"The main benefit is being able to plug in at home and therefore access the lower charging rate.

"It cost about £2.80 at home compared with £28 at the charging station, so it's a good saving," said Mr Stanton, 57.

The cheaper, reliable connection means his family can ditch their second petrol car.

"The charger has given us the confidence now to go fully electric, and we'll just choose one car with a longer range," he said.

"The only drawback is how you can guarantee parking outside your house.

"I don't have a problem, but you can well imagine a busy street in the middle in London could be difficult."

Chris Stanton said home charging had given his family confidence to go "fully electric"

Suffolk is planning 35 installations and will review the trial's success next year.

The government recently announced further funding of £25m to help councils roll out pavement gully charging.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We're powering up an EV revolution and supercharging our infrastructure, to help more people without a driveway to charge easily and cheaply at home."