EV Charging Solution Sought for Homes Without Driveways

In Ireland, as in many countries, the ambitious target of 30% electric vehicles by 2030 hinges on a critical piece of infrastructure: accessible charging. For those living in terraced houses or apartments without private driveways, the dream of switching to an EV often hits a wall. The sight of charging cables snaking across public footpaths presents not only an unsightly clutter but a genuine safety hazard, a concern that RTÉ News has highlighted.

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We've got a public path here, and we had no way of charging it, so it was actually a case of going to local charging units which is quite expensive ... it's been an absolute saving in terms of cost and flexibility and easy way of doing it.

London's Bromley borough offers a potential blueprint with its innovative cross-footway charging channels. This scheme, which tucks cables into shallow ground-level channels, addresses the safety and liability issues head-on. John Trendler, a resident who has had a channel installed, testifies to its success, reporting significant cost savings compared to public charging points and appreciating the flexibility it offers. His experience, shared with curious neighbors, underscores the demand for such practical solutions.

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I think local public charges are getting on for 90p a kilowatt, whereas home here you do an overnight rate of 7p a kilowatt.

Bromley Council, through Councillor Simon Fawthrop, champions the scheme, emphasizing its dual benefit: enabling EV adoption for those without driveways and maintaining clear, safe public spaces. The council's commitment to ensuring residents can own EVs, regardless of their housing situation, is commendable. However, a broader report on similar schemes raises valid concerns about the lack of national standards, a crucial point for Ireland as it considers its own infrastructure rollout. Ensuring consistency and safety across different regions will be paramount for the widespread adoption of EVs.

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First of all, there are people that want electric vehicles, and if they want them, they deserve to be able to have them, but not everybody has the facilities to charge them at their own home, if they’re in a terraced house. So, it helps those people actually get access.