Background
As we get closer to 2030 and the ban on the sale of new cars and vans powered by petrol or diesel only (2035 for certain new Hybrid vehicles) we are seeing more people using Electric Vehicles (EVs).
For EV owners with off-street parking, they can charge their EVs without risk to public safety as it can be done on the grounds of their property.
This guidance is for EV users without off-street parking, providing tips for charging on-street (the public highway). It is crucial to follow existing legislation and ensure public safety when you are charging an EV using a cable or cables across the footway or in an area where people may walk.
Parking your car for charging
- the person using/placing cables for charging an EV is fully responsible for any and all liability and legal issues that come about with the placement of any cables where people may walk
- you should check to make sure your EV insurance policy includes trip cover while charging your EV on-street and obtain further cover if necessary
- users must follow parking rules and not block the footway or access points
- cables cannot cross a road, so the EV must be on the same side of the road where it is being charged from
- you must avoid putting yourself and others at risk when placing any cables
- EVs should be parked as close to the property/charging point as possible
- where an EV cannot be parked directly outside the property, a cable should cross the footway or area where people may walk in the shortest possible route and then be run along the edge of the road against the kerb
- if the EV is not directly outside a property, the recommended maximum charging distance is two car lengths (approximately 10m)
Charging your car
- always follow the manufacturer's instructions for charging your EV, including the use of EV charging cables and extension cables. Consult a qualified electrician if needed
- any extension lead must be for outdoor use. Read and follow its instructions. Do not connect multiple extension leads together
- keep cables flat and do not run them from upper floors or hang them from things like lamp posts or trees. Do not place plug sockets on the footway or where people may walk
- cables should only go over the footway or area where people may walk while charging and must be removed when not in use
- the person charging the EV must ensure any cable does not create a safety issue or a nuisance for others
Using a cable protector
A safer way to place a cable from a property to your vehicle is by using a cable protector that fully covers the cable where people might walk. As they are often used in public areas to cover cables for short periods of time.
To stand out against regular cables and alert people about a cable on the ground, the protector needs to:
- be slip-resistant
- be brightly coloured (like yellow)
- have sloped sides to prevent tripping
- be durable for outdoor use
The protector should fully cover the cable between the property and the vehicle where it is likely to be walked across, such as the full width of any:
- footway
- pedestrian area
- verge
We advise checking out different cable protectors and consulting your EV’s manufacturer or your vehicle insurance company for advice on the best protector to use while you are charging your EV.
Licencing
We are not licencing the placement of cables for on-street EV charging. This may change in the future when legislation changes or when our policies are reviewed.
For any other temporary cable placement on or over the public highway, a licence is required.
If any cable used for charging an EV on the public highway is not safely placed or in a suitable location. Then we have existing powers under Section 162 of the Highways Act 1980 to prosecute where necessary and seek to have the cable removed.
We are aware of other products that are coming to market which offer an alternative to laying a charge cable across the footway, such as cable gullies and charge arms. We do not allow for these to be installed and will not be licencing these or other similar options for installation.
This is because we are expanding our public EV charging network to support cleaner, greener travel across the city. More information can be found here Electric vehicles charging points project.
If any cable management product for EV charging is installed without the proper permission and licence, we can take enforcement action against the person responsible and make them pay to remove it.