Brighton Launches Trial To Help Residents Charge Electric Cars From Home

A new pilot scheme in Brighton and Hove could make it easier for people without driveways to charge electric vehicles from outside their homes.

Brighton and Hove City Council has approved plans to trial pavement gullies – channels built into pavements that allow charging cables to safely run from homes to vehicles parked on the street.

The scheme is aimed at helping residents who currently struggle to access home charging because they do not have off-street parking. Around two-thirds of households across the city are without driveways.

Priority access to the trial will be given to Blue Badge holders through the Government-backed Electric Vehicle Pavement Charging Grant, with the council also working alongside Motability as it continues its transition towards electric vehicles.

The project has secured £232,000 from the Department for Transport, funding up to 193 pavement gullies across the city.

Taxi and private hire drivers are also expected to benefit, with the council keen to encourage more drivers to switch to electric vehicles.

Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet Member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said:

"Brighton and Hove is not a city of driveways."

He said many residents living in flats, terraces and homes without off-street parking feel unable to make the switch to electric vehicles due to a lack of charging options.

"We need to build infrastructure that removes this barrier and enables this choice," he added.

Council figures show there are currently almost 4,900 fully electric vehicles in Brighton and Hove – making up more than four per cent of all vehicles in the city.

That number is forecast to rise dramatically to around 82,000 by 2040.

To cope with demand, the council is planning a major expansion of charging facilities.

There are currently 501 public charge points, with another 1,650 set to be installed in lamp posts over the next three years.

Long-term plans include 6,000 lamp post chargers, 1,000 fast charge points, 200 rapid chargers and at least two ultra-rapid charging hubs by 2040.

The council says it received more than 500 requests for charge points in the past year alone, while a public consultation found lack of home charging remains the biggest obstacle preventing people from switching to electric vehicles.

Brighton and Hove has also secured a further £2.85 million from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund to support future charging projects.