UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / April 23, 2025 / East Lothian Council has started trialling a new cross-footway solution dedicated to providing affordable and accessible home electric vehicle (EV) charging for residents without driveways.

The trial, which already comprised one cross-footway solution provider, is now seeing Charge Gully’s solution being installed for five residents, including two customers of Motability - a scheme that helps disabled people use their mobility allowance to lease a car, scooter, or powered wheelchair.

Both solutions involve cable channels specifically designed to allow residents without off-street parking to safely run a charging cable across the pavement from their home to their vehicle without creating a trip hazard. The user inserts the charging cable into the channel and begins charging their EV. When they are done, they take the cable out of the channel and coil it back around the EV charger attached to their property.

Whilst one solution consists of a rubber channel with a flexible lid, the new solution is a durable metal channel with a lockable lid to prevent tampering.

With 42% of Scottish households lacking off-street parking, according to the latest Scottish Government Housing Survey, many residents have been excluded from the cost savings and convenience of home EV charging.

Currently, those without driveways rely on public chargers, which are often far more expensive than domestic tariffs. Research from the latest Zapmap Price Index shows that EV owners who charge primarily at home can save around £1,200 per year compared to those using public networks.

Ian Mach, Director at Charge Gully, said, "We are thrilled to launch this trial in East Lothian Council. This initiative is a major step in tackling the accessibility challenges associated with EV charging for the millions of people in Scotland without off-street parking.

Councillor John McMillan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Environment, Economic Development and Tourism, said, “As more people switch to electric vehicles, they are discovering the benefits of charging from home.

“Not only is it much cheaper than charging in public, but they can leave the house every day with a full battery, and most people are unlikely to need to charge anywhere else, unless they are driving on the odd long journey.”

East Lothian Council is committed to keep AC On-street & Destination charging rates as low as reasonably practicable. A study by Field Dynamics and Zapmap shows that East Lothian has both the highest number of chargers per head of population in Scotland, and the best distribution relative to on-street households.

The trial is part of the council’s commitment to innovative transport solutions that make EV ownership more inclusive and practical for all residents.

As the UK accelerates towards its net-zero targets, councils across the country are seeking innovative ways to expand EV infrastructure and ensure a fair transition to electric transport.  Cross-footway solutions offer a scalable, cost-effective, and safe way to enable more households to switch to EV.

For more information, visit: www.chargegully.com