‘This saves us money’: Free EV charging trial for Devon homes without driveways

A new trial has been launched in Devon to help electric vehicle (EV) owners charge their cars at home, even if they don’t have a driveway.

Devon County Council is offering to install free cross-pavement cable channels for eligible residents as part of a pioneering scheme aimed at making electric vehicle ownership more accessible.

The trial is open to homeowners in Devon who already have an EV and charger at home, but no off-road parking.

If they are able to park safely outside their property, they can apply to take part in the scheme.

A cable channel is a groove cut into the pavement that allows a charging cable to pass through safely, avoiding any trip hazards or obstruction. Cables must be removed from the channel when not in use, but this only takes a few seconds.

The trial forms part of the Devon and Torbay Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) project, backed by £8 million from the Department for Transport.

Resident Chris Neagle from Exeter already has a cable channel installed and said: “This saves us money and helps the family finances.”

He added: “It’s easy and quick to put in, easy and quick to take out and means I can charge my vehicle whenever I want.”

Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Devon County Council’s cabinet member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said: “On road transportation makes up more than a quarter of the county’s total carbon emissions and the delivery of infrastructure to support the transition to electric vehicles is of vital importance to help address the Climate Emergency.

“If you are a homeowner, drive an EV and do not have access to off-road parking I would encourage you to follow the weblink and apply to take part in the trial.”

The council will use the trial to collect data and assess where cable channels work best, helping inform future decisions on EV infrastructure.

Applications are now open via Devon County Council’s website.