A new survey of electric vehicle drivers and prospective buyers with on-street parking found that outdated planning regulations are a significant barrier to home charging adoption. The research, commissioned by pavement charging company Kerbo Charge, shows that 84% of respondents said requiring planning permission for a home charger would deter them from purchasing an EV. Nearly 44% of those surveyed said they would only buy an electric car if they could charge it at home.
Highlights
- Planning rules deter EV buyers: 84% of on-street parking respondents say planning permission requirements discourage them from buying an EV, with 42.8% saying it would stop them entirely.
- Home charging drives adoption: 43.7% of respondents would only switch to an EV with home charging access, while 33% say it would make them more likely to buy.
- Government action pending: The UK government recently consulted on relaxing permitted development rights for on-street chargers and announced £25 million (approximately $33.5 million USD) in funding for cross-pavement charging.
- Cost gap persists: Home charging is estimated to cost 5 to 10 times less than public charging, according to Kerbo Charge.
Survey Findings on Home Charging Demand
The survey targeted EV owners and prospective buyers who rely on on-street parking rather than private driveways. Results indicate strong demand for home charging, with more than three-quarters of respondents identifying it as either essential or a strong motivator for switching to an EV.
However, current UK planning rules require homeowners without driveways to obtain planning permission before installing a charger, even in cases where a cross-pavement cable channel has already been approved. The government recently completed a consultation on changing those rules, but no regulatory change has taken effect yet.
Cross-Pavement Channels Gain Traction
Many drivers who have installed cross-pavement charging channels described them as making EV ownership practical without a driveway. These systems route a charging cable beneath the pavement from a home to a parked vehicle, with the cable removed after use and a flush lid remaining in place.
Fiona Howarth, Founder and Director of Octopus Electric Vehicles, said:
“It’s brilliant to see more councils enabling gullies so drivers can charge at home, even when parking on the street. Drivers switching to electric are already saving up to 80% on fuel by charging overnight, so expanding access to home charging is a big step forward.”
Additionally, Tanya Sinclair, CEO of EVUK, said:
“Home charging remains the most affordable way to run an electric car. It is simple to manage and allows drivers to start each morning with a full battery.”
Sinclair added that gully charging systems now extend this option to households without driveways. However, she noted that some local authorities remain reluctant to enable them.
Government Funding and Policy Outlook
The UK government recently announced £25 million (approximately $33.5 million USD) in funding for cross-pavement charging infrastructure. Deborah Meaden, sustainability advocate and Dragons’ Den investor in Kerbo Charge, said:
“There is a real problem to solve here: how to make EV charging fair and equitable for everyone, not just those with driveways. This research shows the scale of that challenge, and I’m delighted the Government has recently announced £25 million of funding for cross pavement charging, as well as a consultation on changing permitted development rights for home chargers.”
Meanwhile, Michael Goulden, CEO of Kerbo Charge, said:
“Charging from home is 5 – 10 x cheaper than public charging and much more convenient, we therefore need to make it easy for all residents to charge from home if we’re going to get mass adoption of EVs in the UK.”
Campaigners argue that simplifying council rules for pavement channels and removing planning permission requirements for chargers would unlock EV ownership for millions of UK households that currently depend on street parking.
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