EV charging provider Pod has partnered with Kerbo Charge to launch a unified home charging solution for drivers with on-street parking.

The integrated new service unlocks cheap home energy tariffs and up to £500 in government grants for the estimated third of UK homes that don’t have a driveway. This major barrier has traditionally forced residents to rely on expensive public charging networks.

The two businesses have built a joined-up referral partnership so that drivers who need both a cross-pavement channel and a home charger can get them without having to piece it together separately. Kerbo Charge builds the channel, while Pod provides the charger – and at a significantly discounted rate if the driver is eligible for the grant.

Drivers who come to Pod looking for an on-street charging solution will be referred to Kerbo Charge to install a cross-pavement channel first. Kerbo Charge customers who already have their channel in place get referred straight to Pod to apply for the grant and install Pod Point Solo 3S charger, which works seamlessly with the gully, allowing drivers to take advantage of cheaper home electricity tariffs.

Kerbo Charge works with local authorities across the UK to get channel installations approved, street by street. Currently, 81% of English local authorities have successfully applied for funds from the £25m Electric Vehicle pavement channels grant, meaning a majority of the eight million households without driveways will soon have access to a cross- pavement channel. In Scotland, a separate grant funded by Transport Scotland offers up to £3,500 towards a cross-pavement charging solution, with East Lothian and Renfrewshire currently accepting applications.

The launch aligns with the final year of the Government’s Electric Vehicle Chargepoint Grant, which provides eligible on-street parkers up to £500 toward a home charger installation. To qualify, drivers must own or rent their property, have on-street parking only, and install a cross-pavement solution such as a charging gully.

Data from Pod shows big savings from switching from public charging to home charging, which saves drivers around £1,100 a year, especially if they switch to a dedicated home tariff such as Pod Power by EDF. Exclusive to Pod customers, it offers a seven-hour nightly off-peak window at 6.49p per kilowatt-hour; said to be the longest and lowest off-peak rate available.

All Pod customers can also earn up to £100 a year through Pod Rewards, its smart charging programme. Drivers set a target charge in the Pod Home app, and Pod handles the scheduling automatically, optimising it to avoid peak hours and make the most of renewable energy. Pod Rewards can be withdrawn as cash once users have £10 in their wallet.

Debbie Foley, chief revenue officer at Pod, said: “Our partnership with Kerbo Charge removes one of the most practical barriers standing in the way, making it straightforward for drivers to make the EV switch, claim grants they’re entitled to, and start saving by living electric from day one.”

Michael Goulden, co-founder and CEO of Kerbo Charge, added: “This is a good news story for every driver that doesn’t have a driveway and wants to go electric. Now, through a few simple steps, they can request a cross-pavement channel from us, and an award-winning charger from Pod, all as part of the same streamlined process.”