Ev charger for terrace house

francesco91

Hello 

I've spoken with the local council and they have informed me that since I don't have a driveway or garage, I can't install an EV charger because of the trip danger.

I discovered on Google that it is possible to install an EV cable gulley through pavement. This is a simple task that requires only digging a 1.5-meter-long, 4-centimeter-wide, and shallow hole in the pavement (picture attached).

Have any of you completed this already?If yes, what is your experience with local government? 

Thanks 

Mildly_Miffed

You don't own the pavement. You can no more just dig it up to install that trench than you can a drop kerb.

You would need to apply for planning permission, same as a drop kerb.

I can see a pile of future problems for maintenance of underground utilities.

NoMore

Its down to your local council as to whether they recognise this or other solutions. For me my local council (Cumberland) says:

If you do charge your car at home, please be aware of the following:

• charging your vehicle on the street by trailing a cable across the pavement is not permitted
• cables across the path, or hanging overhead are a hazard, and it is an offence under The Highways Act to place wires or other apparatus across a path that are likely to post a danger to the public
• as well as risking a fine, if someone were to trip up and injure themselves, then you can be held responsible
• at present our advice is that people should not trail cables across public streets in any manner, including the use of a cable protector or cable ramp

They class the solution you describe as a cable protector and will not authorise the work on their pavement for me. YMMV.

LightFlare

Mildly_Miffed said:

You don't own the pavement. You can no more just dig it up to install that trench than you can a drop kerb.

You would need to apply for planning permission, same as a drop kerb.

I can see a pile of future problems for maintenance of underground utilities.

This - plus unless you have a dedicated parking space, then theres nothing to stop anyone else parking there

harz99

ICE or self charging Hybrid is your only solution.

Full EVs are no good unless you're able to legally fit a charger at your home, or you've got reliable access to a charger elsewhere, maybe at work... 

Petriix

Now that we have grown-ups in government I'm hoping things will change. For now it's down to the individual local authority. For example in Norfolk you can get a permit to trail a (suitably protected) cable across the pavement. In Oxford I believe they're trialing cable gullies. I suggest you contact your MP. 

LightFlare

Petriix said:

Now that we have grown-ups in government I'm hoping things will change. For now it's down to the individual local authority. For example in Norfolk you can get a permit to trail a (suitably protected) cable across the pavement. In Oxford I believe they're trialing cable gullies. I suggest you contact your MP. 

yet to be seen - but it's not honestly looking good is it

Goudy

LightFlare said:

Petriix said:

Now that we have grown-ups in government I'm hoping things will change. For now it's down to the individual local authority. For example in Norfolk you can get a permit to trail a (suitably protected) cable across the pavement. In Oxford I believe they're trialing cable gullies. I suggest you contact your MP. 

yet to be seen - but it's not honestly looking good is it

You might be right there, once they let everyone out of prison, they could be out stealing copper cables!

But on the subject, you need to see what your local council says on the matter.
They will certainly have a policy on this that took many late nights and lots of councillor expenses to agree on.

I have talked to my local council of the subject and they have a plan to roll out lamp post chargers rather than let you charge yourself (without a drive).

They say they will prioritise streets where they get the most requests. 
Which if you read between the lines means, if 50 people request on street chargers on a single road, they might fit one!

Where my brother lives they will allow those rubber ramped cable protectors that reach across the pavement.

born_again

Lobby your local councillor. Many councils are running trials on these. So get them to push this as not long left, given Labour manifesto is stating back to 2030 for demise of new ICE.

sheramber

Goudy said:

LightFlare said:

Petriix said:

Now that we have grown-ups in government I'm hoping things will change. For now it's down to the individual local authority. For example in Norfolk you can get a permit to trail a (suitably protected) cable across the pavement. In Oxford I believe they're trialing cable gullies. I suggest you contact your MP. 

yet to be seen - but it's not honestly looking good is it

Where my brother lives they will allow those rubber ramped cable protectors that reach across the pavement.

How do thye ensure that no one else parks in that space?  Do they have dedicated parking spaces?

Iceweasel

Lamp post chargers will turn out to be a bit like getting a Disabled Bay whitelined outside one's house and a 'Blue Badge Holders Only' sign screwed to one's garden wall.
Then you discover that of course any Blue Badge holder can use it.
No one must expect an exclusive street lamp post charger.