No driveway? No problem!
There are plenty of solutions for the millions of people in households who are unable to charge their vehicles at home, however, there are solutions to keep you recharged!
Public Charging Stations
Zap-Map, is an electric owner's best friend, it shows a variety of charging points across the UK with information about each charging point, including charging speed and user reviews. Depending on the charging pod, some offer the first 30mins of charging free! The app even allows you to plan your route! If you plan to travel a long distance, the planner will factor in your make and model of car and the type of charging point you need and will work out when and where to charge your car.
Did you know that within a 5-mile radius of Toomey Southend there are 20 charging stations, not including the number of docks in each destination.
Charging at work
For those who drive to work, your workplace might already have charging points to charge your electric vehicle. If your workplace does not, talk to your employer to see if they’d consider it, they can even make use of the Government’s Workplace charging scheme to reduce the costs of installation. Click here to see more of the Government's scheme.
Friends and Family
It may be possible to ask family or friends to charge your car at their house, that way you can be on the driveway while you recharge your vehicle.
Cables across the pavement
If your wire is long enough, it may be possible to charge your car from your household to the pavement. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that you do not obstruct the footway or any accesses. To do this safely it is recommended that, you complete the following:
- Park your vehicle as close to your property as possible
- The cable should run alongside the carriageway channel, against the kerb
- The cable should not cross the carriageway
- Your vehicle must adhere to any local parking restrictions
- Using a cable protector is a suitable solution, to prevent pedestrians tripping over your wire or the wire being damaged from outdoor usage, it should be
- Non-slip
- Brightly coloured markings e.g. yellow
- Anti-trip sloped slides
- Tough constructions for outdoor use.
- The cable should only be placed on the footway when the vehicle is charging and should be removed as soon as it is no longer in use.
You should be aware that if a passer-by is injured because of your EV cable, it is possible that you could face a claim from a personal injury lawyer. If you are concerned, it might be wise to check if your home or motor insurance policy covers you, in case this happens.