East Lothian Council Plugs In Unique EV Charging Solution for Residents Without Driveways

East Lothian residents can now charge their EV safely across the pavement

East Lothian Council has launched a new trial to help local drivers without a driveway easily charge their electric vehicles at home.

The local authority has commissioned five patented cross-pavement cable channels from charging company Charge Gully, with two of the trial particiants Motability drivers. The cable channel is designed to allow residents without off-street parking to safely run a charging cable from their home to their vehicle without creating a trip hazard.

The system is simple yet effective: the user inserts the charging cable into the channel, locks the lid, and begins charging their EV - providing a safe, legal, and tamper-proof solution for overnight home charging.

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.”

Trial participant William added, “For me to have a home charger fitted, I required a gully to cross a public footpath. Charge Gully provided a superb service from start to completion and now I am able to charge my car at home.”

According to the latest Scottish Government Housing Survey, as many as 42% of Scottish households lack off-street parking, meaning almost half of all Scottish residents could be missing out on the the cost savings and convenience that comes with at-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.

The Charge Gully trial is part of East Lothian Council’s commitment to offering innovative transport solutions that make EV ownership more affordable and practical for all residents.

Ian Mach, Director at Charge Gully, said, "We are delighted to be working in partnership with East Lothian Council on this trial. This initiative is a major step in tackling the accessibility challenges associated with EV charging for the millions of people without off-street parking and especially for those who may face additional accessibility issues due to a disability.

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. Charge Gully’s solution offers a scalable, cost-effective, and safe way to enable more households to switch to EV.

The East Lothian trial will provide insights into how Charge Gully’s system can be deployed across Scotland, paving the way for a more inclusive EV charging network nationwide.

For more information, visit: www.chargegully.com.

About

Charge Gully is dedicated to providing cheap and convenient home electric vehicle charging for houses that don't have a driveway. Based in South Wales, Charge Gully is on a mission to support the UK's transition to clean transport, making EV charging accessible to all.