Sunderland City Council has teamed up with Kerbo Charge to roll out through-pavement EV charging channels in a game-changer for residents without driveways.

The innovative solution means drivers can now safely charge their electric vehicles right outside their front door, saving around £20 compared to using public charge points according to Kerbo Charge figures, or some £1,100 a year.

Under the scheme, a discreet charging channel is installed across the pavement from the resident’s home to the road. When it’s time to charge, drivers insert your cable and the specially designed lid closes behind like a zip, keeping pavements trip-free. The system also flexes to fit the natural shape of the UK’s not-so-flat pavements, enabling quicker, cleaner installs with minimal disruption.

The council is initially deploying 20 channels at a substantially reduced cost to residents as part of a trial project and will then work to make the product available across the city.

One of the first residents to trial the solution is Tony Scott, pictured, who said: “Without being able to home charge it would not be viable for us to own an EV due to high public charging costs when compared to petrol. The channel allows us to charge our car a couple of times a week and take advantage of cheaper overnight electricity. We would definitely recommend it as a good option if you have no off-street parking and are able to park outside your house.’

Councillor Lindsey Leonard, portfolio holder for environment, transport and net zero at Sunderland City Council, said: “Sunderland City Council is leading the way in promoting the use of innovative technologies to assist with charging electric cars. Kerbo Charge were selected for this work across the city as we support our residents who wish to switch to an electric car in streets where there is no or limited off-street parking available.”

Michael Goulden, CEO of Kerbo Charge – which acquired rival Charge Gully earlier this month – said: “Congratulations to Sunderland City Council for making cross pavement charging available to their residents. Kerbo Charge is about giving people more choice and removing barriers to EV adoption, resulting in cleaner air and cheaper charging.”