Getting Started: A quick guide to on-street EV charging

Plugging in overnight is one of the biggest perks of driving an electric vehicle, and you don’t necessarily need a driveway or garage to do so. The Government has allocated billions of pounds for installing chargepoints in residential areas with limited off-street parking, and drivers can influence how that funding is spent. Here’s what you need to know.

Most EV charging takes place at home, and regulations are designed to make it as easy as possible to install charging equipment. Chargepoints are classed as permitted development, which means there’s no need to get planning permission as long as the installation meets the following requirements:

• It must be installed in an off-street parking space (such as a driveway or garage)
• It must be at least two metres from a public highway
• It must not be within land designated as a monument, or a listed building

That first point affects the most drivers. According to the latest National Travel Survey data, a quarter (24%) of English households park vehicles on the street, rising to a third (32%) in urban areas. With new combustion engine cars and vans set to be phased out from 2030, the Government is finding ways help them make the switch too.

The On-Street Residential Charging Scheme (ORCS) launched in 2017 providing funding for UK local authorities to roll out infrastructure in areas where driveways and garages are less common. This has already funded thousands of chargepoints at the kerbside and in council-owned car parks, including some utilising electrical supplies for existing street lighting.

A further £15m was made available to local authorities in 2023/24, funding up to 60% of installation and equipment costs per charging point, capped at £7,500 per unit or £13,000 if the electrical connection costs are “particularly high”. There is no maximum or minimum project size, but chargepoints must be available to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week and maintained for seven years.

Councils, unitary authorities and combined authorities in England are also eligible for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) fund which launched this year after a pilot in 19 areas last year. This is designed to accelerate the roll-out of chargepoints by covering hardware, electrical connection and installation costs – however, 2023’s application process ended in May.

The LEVI also includes a Support Body, which offers free, impartial advice for local authorities looking to develop their charging strategy, provided by the Energy Saving Trust, Cenex and PA Consulting.

The ORCS is a demand-led scheme, and residents can take an active role in getting that process underway. Local authorities are responsible for seeking permission from highways authorities and applying for funding, but the first step is contacting them to highlight where there is demand for chargepoints.

There are several ways to do this:

• A full list of UK council contact information is available on the Local Government Association website, here.
• Specific instructions for each London borough are available on the London Councils website, here.
• Drivers can also register their interest through on-street chargepoint network operator Char.gy by placing a pin on its interactive map. The company will lobby the relevant local authority on their behalf. The map can be accessed here.

Applications funding are considered on a case-by-case basis, and ORCS funding may prioritise areas that have poor air quality or haven’t received funding through other schemes.

The BVRLA recognises that local authorities have an important role in developing a robust charging network, as well as the challenges they face with resources, funding and workloads. As a step towards further network growth, especially for fleets, the organisation has launched two key initiatives to support councils with their charging strategies:

• The Fleet-Friendly Charging Index maps authorities’ progress deploying charging infrastructure, and how carefully they are considering fleet needs.
• The Fleet Friendly Charging Pledge is designed to encourage closer collaboration between fleets and local authorities, ensuring charging meets the diverse needs of businesses and committing to putting strategies in place.

Despite the growing support for residential charging networks, it could take time to fill the gaps. Here are some important tips if you don’t have off-street parking:

• Be careful with cables: Section 178 of the Highways Act 1980 says it is legal to trail cables across, over or along a pavement, but only with the local authority’s permission. Some will allow this, others see it as a trip hazard and will ask for it to be removed. Consider a brightly coloured cable protector to reduce the trip hazard and check your vehicle insurance includes cover for any damage.
• Charge at work: Although most plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles are registered to fleets, HMRC doesn’t tax electricity as a fuel. If your workplace has its own chargepoints and they’re free to use then the cost of the energy isn’t taxed as a Benefit-in-Kind, even if it’s for private use. This also applies if you’re carpooling using your passenger’s employer’s chargepoints.
• Use charging apps: Public charging is typically more expensive than plugging in at home, but there are several really useful smartphone apps to help find the cheapest local chargepoints. Zap-Map provides a live map of the UK’s myriad charging networks, including a filter which for locating units which are still free to use.
• Share with others: The Co Charger platform enables electric vehicle drivers with off-street chargepoints to share them with others when they’re not in use. Payments are handled through an app, which enables hosts to set a per-hour fee and helps drivers to find them easily.
• Become a member: Most charging networks offer pay-as-you-go access using a contactless credit or debit card, but it’s often the priciest way to use them. BP Pulse, for example, offers a 14p per kWh discount on its fastest chargepoints if drivers pay a £7.85 monthly subscription fee. A Kia Niro EV driver could recover those costs within a single fast charging session.