£63 million funding to boost charging infrastructure across the UK

On 15th July 2025, the UK Government announced a brand-new Electric Car Grant (EGC), backed by the Department for Transport, designed to accelerate the switch to electric vehicles and make the transition genuinely affordable.

While the headline might be the return of money off new electric cars (up to £3,750!), there’s another HUGE win. A dedicated £25 million pot to fund cross-pavement charging for drivers who don’t have access to a driveway. Yes, finally — a win for the street parkers of Britain.

What is cross-pavement charging?

Cross-pavement charging lets EV owners without driveways safely run a charging cable from their home to their car parked on the street. It involves installing a discreet channel - typically flush with the pavement - that guides the cable underneath, eliminating trip hazards and keeping everything nice, tidy, and legal.

Think of it as a little tunnel that makes it possible to plug in at home, even if your car is on the kerb. Companies like the market leader Kerbo Charge as well as others like Gul-e have developed purpose-built systems that are council-approved, safe, and accessible — and now they’re about to become much more widely available.

Can you get cross-pavement charging through your council?

To be eligible for the grant, you’ll need planning permission first. That's a key requirement. But even before that, the rollout relies on your local authority taking part.

Local authorities can include cross-pavement solutions in their LEVI capital fund projects (Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund), but these must form a minority of the project. That means cross-pavement isn’t the whole plan — just one part of a bigger EV infrastructure push.

Councils are also encouraged to bring in commercial partners or homeowner contributions to support these installations.

So, what can you do?

1. Check your council’s website or contact their EV infrastructure team.
2. Register your interest with Kerbo Charge and Gul-e. The more names they have, the stronger the case.
3. Take part in a trial. Kerbo and Gul-e are working with councils to pilot cross-pavement solutions. You can even ask your MP to register for a trial — both companies have links on their sites to do exactly that.

For millions of households without access to off-street parking, owning an EV has often meant relying on more expensive and less convenient public charging points. But that’s about to change.

This funding means local councils can install approved channels that let a standard domestic EV charger cable run safely beneath the pavement, connecting from home to car without any trip hazards or legal headaches. For millions of UK households, this could be the key to unlocking cheaper, easier home charging, without having to move house.

“The return of an EV grant is a huge step forward - especially for households who’ve felt priced out of going electric. With up to £3,750 off the cost of a new electric car, we could see thousands more drivers make the switch. And by working with brilliant solutions like Kerbo Charge and Gul-e, even more people without driveways can charge at home too. That’s how we make EV ownership work for everyone.” – Tom Bloor, Managing Director, evec

 

Why cross-pavement charging matters

• Access gap: Around 8 million English households lack off-street parking options like drives or garages, according to off-street parking specialists, Kerbo Charge. That’s a lot of people relying on public chargers.
• Hidden opportunity: Of those, almost 4 million homes are likely to have appropriate on-street parking. With the right infrastructure, these homes could charge directly outside their own homes.
• Savings and convenience: Charging at home typically costs between 5-10x less per mile than public rapid chargers. That could mean hundreds of pounds saved every year, which is money better spent on… well, anything else.

By underwriting the cost of digging safe channels beneath the pavement, the Government grant removes both safety concerns and the upfront expense that have kept many would-be EV buyers on the fence.

 

Who stands to benefit?

• Urban drivers: Particularly those in terraced homes, where driveways are rare and competition for chargers can be fierce.
• Local authorities: Councils gain funding certainty to roll out proven cross-pavement solutions, enabling consistent planning and quicker installations.

And most importantly: drivers. Real people who’ve been waiting (and waiting) for something to make EV ownership more practical.

 

“We at Kerbo Charge are delighted by the news of the Government grant for cross-pavement charging solutions. For far too long, over 40% of UK households have faced an unfair barrier to EV adoption because they don’t have a driveway. Currently, they must choose between paying high prices to charge their car at inconvenient public charge points, or holding on to their polluting petrol or diesel vehicles and directly contributing to the climate emergency. 

The ability to charge safely, cheaply and conveniently at home will make a huge difference to these motorists and should significantly boost the rate of EV adoption. Kerbo Charge has a waiting list of 12,000 drivers all desperate to have one of our channels installed outside their home, but are currently unable to do so either because of affordability or because their local authority has not yet authorised it. This funding announcement addresses both of these issues head-on, demonstrating the Government’s backing for cross-pavement charging and subsidising the cost for tens of thousands of UK households.” - Michael Goulden, Co-Founder, Kerbo Charge

 

Where is it available?

Kerbo Charge are already working with 30 councils across the UK — and more are coming on board all the time.

If you live in one of these areas, you can book a cross-pavement channel installation now (or very shortly), although availability is limited.

• Northumberland
• Hartlepool
• Bolton
• Nottinghamshire
• Cornwall
• West Berkshire
• Milton Keynes
• London Borough of Enfield
• Reading
• Manchester City
• Stoke-On-Trent
• Lancashire
• London Borough of Richmond
• Bedford
• Central Bedfordshire
• Surrey
• Durham
• Coventry
• East Lothian
• Sunderland
• Carmarthenshire
• London Borough of Haringey
• Gwent
• Newport

Kerbo Charge currently offers the widest rollout and installable councils with standard installs from £949 inc VAT. Their waiting list is over 12,000 strong, showing just how in-demand and effective their solution is.

Gul-e is also active in developing solutions with local authorities. At present, they are working with a more limited number of councils. Like Kerbo Charge, they offer council-compliant infrastructure and are part of the government’s supported ecosystem.

What’s the OZEV grant - and can I still use it?

Yes! The OZEV grant (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) is still very much alive and kicking — and it works brilliantly alongside this new cross-pavement funding.

If you live in a flat or rent your home, you could still be eligible for up to £350 off the cost of installing a home charger, thanks to the OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant. That’s on top of the benefits from your local council if they roll out cross-pavement infrastructure under this new scheme.

Here's how it could work:

• Step 1: Your local authority installs a cross-pavement cable channel outside your home (thanks to the new £25m Government fund).
• Step 2: You book a home charger installation through an OZEV-approved installer (like one of evec’s trusted partners).
• Step 3: You save up to £350 off your charger install with the OZEV grant and start charging at home.

It’s a powerful combination of national and local support that finally makes at-home EV charging a reality for renters, flat-dwellers, and anyone stuck parking kerbside.

A broader EV push

This cross-pavement grant is part of a wider £63 million investment under the Government’s Plan for Change initiative. Other parts of the funding are earmarked for:

• Supporting NHS estates to go electric
• Helping businesses electrify their fleets

• Installing EV infrastructure at key depots and sites

This grant is a catalyst for behaviour change, at a scale that can reshape how we power our daily journeys. With the 2035 petrol and diesel ban still on the horizon, support like this is essential to bring more people on board with the electric revolution.

Thinking of going electric, but worried about charging?

We hear you. And we’ve got solutions.

At evec, we make EV charging affordable, simple and accessible — no matter where or how you park. Our VEC01 is the UK’s most affordable home EV charger, and it’s already helping thousands of drivers from Falmouth to Aberdeen charge up with ease. Let’s make EV ownership work for everyone.

Explore our EV chargers and flexible finance options here.

FAQs

Q: What is cross-pavement charging?
A: It’s a system that allows an EV charging cable to run safely from your home, underneath the pavement, to your car parked on the street. It’s a neat little channel that’s installed flush with the pavement so it can be used safely and legally.

 

Q: Is it legal to run a charging cable across the pavement?
A: Not without proper infrastructure or permission. Most councils don’t allow loose cables to cross public footpaths because they’re a safety hazard. But approved cross-pavement solutions like those from Kerbo Charge and Gul-e are designed to comply with safety regulations and council requirements, making home charging safe and legal, even without a driveway.

 

Q: Will my local council cover the cost?
A: That’s the idea! The new £25 million government fund is designed to support local authorities to roll out cross-pavement charging infrastructure. So, if your council hasn’t already adopted a scheme, now’s the time to give them a nudge. Funding means they can offer subsidised or even free installations in the future.

 

Q: I rent my home, can I still get cross-pavement charging installed?
A: It depends on your council, landlord, and the property setup, but in many cases, yes. Renters and flat-dwellers are one of the key groups this grant is designed to help. If you’ve got on-street parking and your landlord’s on board, cross-pavement charging could absolutely be an option for you.

 

Q: Do I need to buy a special EV charger to work with a pavement channel?
A: Nope! Standard home chargers (like our lovely VEC01) work perfectly with cross-pavement channels. What matters is that the installation is done correctly and to approved standards. Think of the channel as a fancy extension lead tunnel that keeps your cable tidy and safe.

 

Q: How much does cross-pavement installation usually cost?
A: Without funding, prices vary depending on your location and chosen installer — typically ranging from £800 to £1,500+.

For example, professional installation from Kerbo Charge starts from £949.

The good news? With the Government’s new £25 million grant, those costs could be significantly reduced or fully covered by your local authority. We’ll keep you posted as more councils roll out support.

 

Q: Where can I find out if my council is offering cross-pavement charging?
A: Start by checking your local authority’s website or contacting their EV infrastructure team directly. You can also register your interest with companies like Kerbo Charge and Gul-e, who are working closely with