Motorists in Nottinghamshire could be able to charge their electric vehicles outside their homes even if they don’t have driveways.
The county council is to trial enabling residents to fund cable channels cut into the footway so that they can connect their electric vehicle to their household’s electricity supply.
Anyone wanting to do it can apply to the county council, which will consider each request on its own merits.
The trail was approved at a meeting of the county council’s transport and environment committee
Councillor John Wilmott (Hucknall North) questioned the need for the trial and said: “Let’s look at it realistically, a new electric car is affordable to some but not affordable to many now.
“Can really you see a family living on a street of terraced houses on low incomes being able to afford an electric car with no charging point at their property.
“And what about the hundreds of thousands of property owners in flats, terraced houses, houses of multiple occupation – where are they going to get their electric car charged?
“This is just one of the challenges we face if we have all got to have electric cars by 2030.”
The recommendation to trial on-street charging and investigate wider on-street charging infrastructure for all was approved.
Afterwards, committee chairman Councillor Neil Clarke, said: “The approval of this trial at today’s committee meeting reinforces our commitment to climate change and creating a greener Nottinghamshire.
“Working in partnership with Nottingham City Council and district councils as part of the Go Ultra Low programme, electric vehicle charging points have been installed in public car parks at 23 locations across the county.
“However, we know that electric vehicles are not only owned by those with off-street parking, and so we are keen to provide an affordable solution to residents who must park their vehicles on the street.
“This approach, while only an interim measure, will really help to inform our future plans for both on and off-street electric vehicle charging solutions.
“The pilot will see us working with a number of different partner organisations and I am optimistic that the measures we have approved today will be of significant benefit to residents taking part.
“The proposals will also involve investigating potential EV charging options located on the highway which would be available to all of the public to use, including where in the county these may be trialled.”
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