A new pavement rule update in a popular UK region could help motorists save thousands of pounds in running costs. Surrey County Council has joined forces with Kerbo Charge, allowing electric car owners to fit pavement gullies outside their homes. This initiative enables drivers without driveways to access cheaper domestic charging rates, saving money on costly public charging bays.
How the Scheme Works
The gullies are specially designed to accommodate cables running from homes to electric vehicles parked on the street. Each gully features a lid to prevent pedestrians from tripping. Residents must pay a £499 fee to secure a cable, down from £1,000 thanks to Government funding.
Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at Surrey County Council, stated: "EV charging needs to be accessible for all Surrey residents, not just those with a driveway. I'm delighted we've been able to launch this scheme to help people access home charging for their EVs."
Potential Savings
Kerbo Charge highlights that home charging can save Surrey drivers up to £4,000 annually compared to using public bays. Home charging typically costs between 7p and 25p per kWh, while public charging ranges from 55p to 95p per kWh.
Kier Mather, minister at the Department for Transport, noted that motorists can now save over 50% on the cost of installing cross-pavement charging solutions.
Community Response
Michael Goulden, co-founder of Kerbo Charge, reported strong interest: "We're delighted to see over 100 applications in the first 24 hours of the scheme opening. This is about offering more choice to residents and removing barriers to EV adoption."
Surrey County Council previously tested the system at 12 sites across the county in 2024. Alongside 500 on-street EV chargepoints already installed, this scheme aims to make EV ownership a viable option for more people.
