About our on-street charging pilot schemes for electric vehicles
In order to test the best solutions on the market for electric vehicle charging, we have undertaken product trials of the Gul-e and Kerbo Charge pavement cable channels. These products make home charging a safer, more realistic option for the many residents who do not have the ability to park off-street, and may not feel comfortable transitioning to an electric vehicle.
These cable channels are installed in the pavement to allow the safe trailing of a charging cable from property to vehicle in areas where residents predominantly have to park on-street outside their property. They are designed so that cables will not cause a trip or slip hazard.
The specifically designed channel allows residents to connect their electric vehicle to their domestic electricity supply when parked outside their homes. We understand that in some areas it can prove challenging to park outside your home, and this will also make charging more difficult. However, these channels may provide a suitable solution in lots of areas and will unlock savings on the cost of charging your vehicle. Undertaking trials allows us to see what works best in a variety of locations and the cable channels present one small solution to the wider need for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Central government recently released long-awaited guidance on cross-pavement charging solutions. This was produced to help provide a way forward for all local authorities that are working towards making these available to residents.
The future
Following the completion of the 2 trials, we have been analysing the products and the feedback from participants, undertaking audits, and identifying any defects. Alongside this, we have been working though the detail of how we can offer these to residents.
We are arranging an extended trial of the Kerbo Charge pavement cable channel, and we are working to have this ready to launch in the coming weeks. The extended trial will be for up to 100 channels, for residents to purchase and use for home charging. This trial will help us test and refine our internal processes, providing valuable feedback on surveying, ordering, installation, the customer experience, and the product itself.
This involves collaboration across the organisation, implementing our learnings from the trials, and ensuring we have a complete understanding of the processes that need to be in place. At the same time, we are able to test other aspects, such as the possible options for ordering and the tools available for those with accessibility issues.
We are working to get this extended trial live as soon as possible and we will update the website once we have more news. If you want to be added to our list of interested residents, please email us at begreen@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. We will email all those on the list with more information, once available.