Sunderland City Council is testing a through-pavement charging channel that allows residents without driveways to run a cable between their home and the roadside to charge EVs.
The council is installing twenty of the Kerbo Charge channels across the city and if the trial proves successful, the plan is to make the solution more widely available in the future.
A slim charging channel is built into the pavement, running neatly from the property boundary to the kerb.
Drivers place the cable into the slot, which then seals shut like a zip, removing the risk of somebody tripping over it.
Instead of relying only on public charging points, residents are able to charge their vehicles at home.
According to Kerbo Charge, that could save households about £1,100 on average each year.
Kerbo Charge, designed and manufactured in the UK, is designed to flex and adapt to the natural shape of different types of pavement, ensuring a smooth fit without significant disruption.
Councillor Lindsey Leonard, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Transport and Net Zero at Sunderland City Council, said, “Sunderland City Council is leading the way in promoting the use of innovative technologies to assist with charging electric cars.
“Kerbo Charge were selected for this work across the city as we support our residents who wish to switch to an electric car in streets where there is no or limited off-street parking available.”
Michael Goulden, CEO of Kerbo Charge, said, “Kerbo Charge is about giving people more choice and removing barriers to EV adoption, resulting in cleaner air and cheaper charging.”
