Bournemouth Council Pilots Innovative Pavement Gully System for Affordable Residential EV Charging
Key Insights
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council is trialing an innovative pavement gully system to enable residential electric vehicle charging for homes without off-street parking.
The system allows EV owners to utilize cheaper domestic electricity, significantly reducing charging costs compared to public charging stations.
Individual residents fund the gully installation, with potential support from central government grants, making EV ownership more accessible.
This initiative aligns with the council's broader EV strategy and addresses a key barrier to electric vehicle adoption in urban areas.
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is advancing a trial for an innovative pavement gully system designed to facilitate residential electric vehicle (EV) charging, a move poised to significantly enhance EV accessibility for residents lacking off-street parking. The proposed system, slated for cabinet discussion on July 16, involves embedding charging cables within pavement gullies, allowing EV owners to connect directly to their domestic electricity supply.
This solution offers a substantial economic advantage, enabling charging costs as low as 5p per kilowatt-hour (kWh), a stark contrast to the up to 89p per kWh typically incurred at public charging stations. Individual residents would bear the cost of their gully and charging socket, with potential financial offsets available through central government grants, thereby reducing the upfront investment burden.
Andy Hadley, BCP Council's portfolio holder for environment, lauded the initiative as an "innovative solution" that directly responds to resident demand. "Charging gullies could make owning an electric vehicle a more attractive option for residents that do not have off-street parking," Hadley stated, emphasizing its role within the council's broader EV strategy. He further noted the council's commitment to ensuring the gullies do not impede pedestrian flow or create trip hazards, a critical design consideration for urban infrastructure deployment.
The BCP Council's trial follows similar initiatives by other UK local authorities, including Devon County Council and Suffolk County Council, aligning with national guidance aimed at expanding EV charging accessibility. The widespread adoption of such systems could fundamentally alter the landscape of urban EV charging, shifting reliance from public rapid chargers to more convenient and cost-effective home-based solutions.
If the trial proves successful, the system could be systematically rolled out across Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, setting a precedent for other densely populated urban centers grappling with similar infrastructure challenges. This approach not only addresses the immediate need for charging accessibility but also supports the long-term sustainability goals of urban environments by promoting cleaner transportation options.