Almost half of councils to offer cross-pavement charging by end of 2026

Electric car drivers who don’t have a driveway could soon have access to cross-pavement charging.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request by Vauxhall found 42% of councils in England, Scotland and Wales plan to have cross-pavement charging available by the end of 2026.

The research found that 56 tier one councils currently offer or will be making cross-pavement charging available by the end of the year, providing millions of drivers with access to a practical method to charge their EV at home.

Currently, seven councils out of the 134 which responded to the FOI request have live cross-pavement charging in their constituencies, with a further 21 in the trial stage, and 28 planning to roll out cross-pavement charging in 2026.

The research highlights a lack of consistency from councils across the country in their methods and application processes for residents wanting to install cross-pavement gullies on their streets.

Costs for installation vary dramatically depending on the council, with some local authorities offering installation services for free while others charge over £1,000.

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Confusion over the installation process of cross-pavement chargers was highlighted by Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England who, in a new report published in January, outlined frustrations from residents.

These included:

• Not being provided with clear information on EV charging options available
• Being left in the dark about how to apply for cross-pavement charging
• Long wait times before finding out if permission to install cross-pavement charging is granted

Eurig Druce, Managing Director at Stellantis UK, said: “To allow drivers across the country to feel confident going electric, councils need to ensure they are providing drivers with as much clarity as possible about the options available to them, and how they can install EV charging outside their door.

What is cross-pavement EV charging?

Cross-pavement charging is when a car can charge from the driver’s home by running a charging cable through a self-closing channel installed in the pavement to the EV wall box.

There are two versions used by councils across the country.

Known as ‘gullies’, EV cable channels are embedded within the pavement. These temporarily house the cable whilst the vehicle is being charged up. Once complete, the cable is removed. These are the most common cross pavement charging option used in the UK.

The second option is a permanent charging cable that is laid under the pavement. It is connected to a domestic chargepoint through removable bollards and connectors to the vehicle.Drivers across the country need to check with their local councils regarding cross-pavement parking as the rules and types used can vary.