A local council is set to trial a new pavement gully system aimed at solving a growing challenge for electric vehicle (EV) owners: safe and convenient charging at home for those without driveways.
The scheme, due to be discussed by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) councillors next week, proposes installing discreet cable channels in pavements that allow residents to run EV charging cables from their homes to the kerbside without posing a trip hazard to pedestrians.
The trial comes as part of BCP Council’s broader EV strategy to expand charging infrastructure, making it more accessible and safer for residents, particularly those in terraced housing or urban areas with no off-street parking.
“Charging gullies could make owning an EV a more attractive option for residents who do not have off-street parking,” said councillor Andy Hadley. “This is exactly the sort of innovative solution that residents have been asking us to provide.”
The pavement gully system would work alongside a “safe socket” charging point at the kerb, allowing residents to use their own, often cheaper, domestic electricity supply. With home charging tariffs as low as 5p per kWh, the system could offer significant savings compared to public charging rates, which range from 44p to 89p per kWh.
While the upfront cost of installing a gully and charge point would fall on the homeowner, the council says it can be partially offset by a central government grant.
The UK was Europe’s biggest EV market in 2024 and third in the world, selling more than 382,000 electric vehicles — a 20% rise year on year. Yet uptake among private buyers remains below expectations, largely due to infrastructure gaps, particularly for kerbside and on-street charging.
“In addition to making at-home charging more accessible, we are committed to rolling out more convenient public charging points,” Hadley added.
“We currently have 110 charge points across BCP car parks and are planning to install 500 more over the next five years. Crucially, we want these measures to be safe and not take up unnecessary space or create trip hazards for pedestrians.”
Other councils including Devon and Suffolk have also launched similar gully trials following national guidance issued by the government at the end of 2024.
If BCP’s trial is approved and successful, it could pave the way for a wider rollout and encourage other local authorities to follow suit.