Can you get an EV charging channel?
If you are interested in purchasing an electric vehicle (EV) charging channel then you must understand the constraints, considerations and requirements. These may affect your suitability and eligibility to successfully apply.
Our EV charging channel guidance must be read in its entirety before you apply, along with the rest of the content on this web page.
It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure you comply with and understand this, prior to applying and making payment.
How to apply
Complete the online application and pay the non-refundable deposit. We will then assess the suitability of your location and let you know the next steps.
Costs
- Total cost: £999
- Deposit: £147.40
- Balance: £851.60
The cost of an EV charging channel is fixed at £999.
You will initially pay a non-refundable fee of £147.40. This covers the processing of your application and the site assessment to determine if your location is suitable.
If the proposal is acceptable, you will pay the remaining balance of £851.60 and a licence agreement will be issued for you to review, sign, date and return to us.
We have allocated some grant funding towards EV charging channels and are offering a £150 discount to the 50 successful applicants as part of this extended trial. In most cases, this will mean the remaining balance you have to pay is £701.60 and the total cost of the EV charging channel will be £849.
If you have a particularly complex installation, there could be an increase in installation costs. This will be fully explained to you following the site assessment. Further information on when there may be increases in costs is covered in the guidance document. You will still qualify for the grant discount.
Full payment is required before works can be programmed in or commence.
Checklist
Prior to applying, you must ensure you have:
- read the contents of the guidance document
- found out the ownership or adoption status of the pavement outside your house
- sought approval from the property owner (if required)
- looked into the feasibility of a home charge point installation
- identified a suitable location for the channel based on the guidance document
Grant funding
Find out about available grants.
We're not involved in this scheme, but encourage you to apply for this grant, if you're able to.
For some time, the government has offered a suite of grants to encourage the uptake of electric vehicles. In 2024, a scheme was launched to provide a discount of up to £350 off the cost of a home charge point for residents who park on-street and have approval for an EV charging channel. This funding has been rolled over into 2025 and 2026.
Our extended trial
We are undertaking a further trial of EV charging channels to help us test and refine our internal processes, providing valuable feedback on surveying, ordering, installation, the customer experience, and the product itself. At the same time, we can test other aspects, such as potential alternative options for ordering, and the tools available for those with accessibility issues. We need your feedback and so participants will be required to complete an online survey a few months after installation.
About EV charging channels
EV charging channels have emerged in recent years as a solution for the significant number of drivers who do not benefit from dedicated off-street parking that enables home electric vehicle charging. They do not work for everyone but are a useful option for many residents.
We trialled two products during 2022 and 2024 across a variety of locations, surface types and parking arrangements. Feedback across both trials was overwhelmingly positive, with 90% of participants saying the channels improved their EV ownership experience, and 39 out of 40 recommending the channels as a solution. Users felt the benefits were safer and more convenient home charging and the access they had to cheaper domestic electricity tariffs. They also noted that they had received several positive comments from neighbours and passers-by.
The main challenge identified was not always being able to park outside the property to utilise the channel. However, most residents will not need to use the channel more than a couple times a week to charge their vehicle. Those purchasing and investing in a channel will likely do so where parking arrangements on their street, and between their neighbours, provides them with the security that they can get access to the channel to charge frequently enough for their needs.
Learnings from these nationwide trials have been shared between local authorities and government departments to help shape the best way forward for offering these to residents. Government has released guidance and grant funding to support the offering of EV charging channels to residents.
The decision to allow the installation of a cross-pavement solution in the public highway rests with us, the highway authority. The suitability of an individual location is dependent on several factors, which is covered in detail in the guidance.