Hartlepool council is running trials of through-pavement channels to help residents shift to electric vehicles.

Hartlepool resident James Pratt, who has already had a channel installed, said it’s been a gamechanger

Already available at various local authorities in the UK, the Kerbo Charge channels make it possible for residents with street parking to safely charge their cars at home and take advantage of low-cost off-peak tariffs.

The product tackles a big problem for Hartlepool residents who don’t have a driveway.

Local resident James Pratt, who has already had a channel installed, said it’s been a gamechanger.

“The main problems I faced were cost and convenience. I had to plan each charging session, find a public charger, plug and wait for it to charge, and then the cost of charging was around five times more than charging at home. It didn’t make getting an EV very attractive.

“Now that I have my Kerbo Charge installation I don’t think about charging anymore. There’s no fear of anything being stolen or damaged and I can charge at home as I like. Yes, you can’t guarantee a parking space in front of your home 100% of the time, but without Kerbo Charge, you can’t charge at home at all. In reality, I only need to top-up my EV once or twice a week, so it works out perfectly.”

The Hartlepool trial, which is entirely paid for by the residents, tackles  by installing through-pavement channels at households, allowing residents to safely charge their electric vehicles on the street.

When residents want to charge, they insert their charging cable and the self-closing lid snaps down shut behind, removing the risk of trips and falls from trailing charging cables across footways.

The channel is made from a high-strength thermoplastic said to offer a significantly lower carbon footprint than metal alternatives and ensure it’s not a target for metal thieves.

Kieran Bostock, Hartlepool Borough Council’s assistant director – neighbourhood services, said: “Anything which encourages the take-up of EVs is to be welcomed, and this initiative reflects the council’s commitment – as set out in its Net Zero Strategy and Action Plan – to tackle climate change by reducing its impact on the environment whilst also supporting local communities to cut their emissions.”