More drivers are set to benefit from ground-breaking new electric vehicle charging technology that could save them over £1,000 a year.
East Lothian Council has become the latest local authority to partner with Kerbo Charge to pilot the popular footpath charging channel on roads across the region.
The Kerbo Charge channel allows homeowners without driveways to feed charging cables to their cars through the channel without creating any obstructions to their sidewalks.
Electric car owners can insert the charging cable into the groove and close the specially designed lid, thus avoiding tripping hazards for pedestrians.
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Kerbo Charge channel helps drivers feel confident about charging at home
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Kerbo Charge channels can blend in with the pavement surface during installation and require no surrounding preparation.
The rollout across East Lothian aims to increase the number of electric cars on the roads, as homeowners without driveways will be able to invest in confidence without relying on public chargers.
North Berwick resident Alison Wilkie praised the new Kelbo charging channel, saying she could now safely charge her hybrid Mitsubishi Outlander at home.
Kerbo Charge reported that every time a resident charges their car at home using off-peak rates, they save around £24 compared to charging at a public station.
The trial is being privately funded and, if up to date, could save residents around £1,100 a year compared to public billboards.
Councilor John McMillan, cabinet spokesperson for environment, economic development and tourism, said: “As more people switch to electric cars, they are realizing the benefits of charging from home.
“Not only is it much cheaper than charging in public, you can leave home every day with a full battery, and most people don’t need to charge elsewhere unless they’re taking the odd long journey. Almost none.”
This will help drivers comply with Section 239 of the Highway Code, which advises EV owners to park close to charging points and avoid tripping hazards for pedestrians.
The code also requires warning signs to be displayed where possible, and to ensure that charging cables and connectors are properly connected to minimize danger to pedestrians and to avoid hindrance to other road users. We recommend that you return it.
Designed in London and manufactured in Derby, Kerbo Charge is just 30mm deep and 42mm wide, with a hinged lid dug directly outside the customer’s home.
Michael Goulden, co-founder and CEO of Kerbo Charge, said: “We are delighted that East Lothian Council is trialling a home EV charging channel to help achieve its net zero target. Because we are seriously addressing inequity.”
According to Zapmap data, there are an estimated 850,000 chargers installed in homes and workplaces, where the majority of charging happens.
Latest developments:
New charging equipment can prevent dangerous accidents for pedestrians KERBO CHARGEAs of the end of September 2024, there were more than 70,000 public electric vehicle chargers, with approximately 103,600 connectors available to drivers.
The scale of public charging station installations has increased dramatically in recent years. At the end of 2020, there were fewer than 21,000 chargers.
Since December 2023, devices have increased by 32%, and since September 2023, chargers have increased by 41% year over year.
