Sunderland pilots pavement charging solution to make home EV charging easier

Image Credit: Kerbo Charge

Sunderland City Council is testing a new method to help residents without driveways charge their electric vehicles. The project involves Kerbo Charge, a through-pavement charging channel that allows people to run a cable safely from their home to the roadside.

For the first stage, the council is installing twenty of these channels across the city. If the trial proves successful, the plan is to make the solution more widely available in the future.

The benefit for residents is significant. Instead of relying only on public charging points, they will be able to charge their vehicles at home. On average, that could save households around £ 1,100 each year.

The design itself is clever. 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 someone tripping over it.

Kerbo Charge is a British innovation, designed and manufactured in the UK. The product is designed to flex and adapt to the natural shape of various pavements, 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:

“Congratulations to Sunderland City Council for making cross pavement charging available to their residents.

“Kerbo Charge is about giving people more choice and removing barriers to EV adoption, resulting in cleaner air and cheaper charging.”