Kerbo Charge rolls out trial in Central Bedfordshire to help accelerate the transition to cleaner cars

UK EV charging experts, Kerbo Charge, have launched a new trial in Central Bedfordshire that is revolutionising how residents without a driveway can charge their electric vehicles from their homes.

The Kerbo Charge trial was given the green light by Central Bedfordshire Council, to increase EV uptake in the area to meet sustainability goals. With the zero-emission vehicle mandate now set for 2035, it is becoming a greater priority for councils to help residents transition to electric cars. However, with the cost of using public charging points continuing to rise, the financial barriers to making the switch are ever-increasing.

The latest data from Zap Map shows that given the cost of public charging, there is currently no economic incentive to move from petrol/diesel cars to electric unless you can charge at home. A resident that can charge at home pays on average £680 per year to charge their car, versus a significantly higher £1,820 for a resident that relies on public chargers. 

Meanwhile, it costs £1,470 per year if you’re driving a petrol car. Given that over a third of UK households have street parking, the cost of public charging creates a major barrier to EV adoption.

To help change this, Kerbo Charge works with councils to install EV charging channels in the pavement outside residents' homes.  When residents want to charge they insert their charging cable and the self-closing lids snap down behind just like a zip. Residents can then safely charge an electric vehicle on the road as it removes the risk of trips and falls from trailing charging cables from a property across the footway. 

Most importantly, it means EV owners don’t have to use a public charge point every time they need to charge - dramatically improving the attractiveness of electric cars.

Caption: Central Bedfordshire resident, John, can access convenient home charging on-street now that he has a Kerbo Charge channel, saving over £1000 a year on charging costs.

Making on-street charging accessible to all

Kerbo Charge Co-founder Michael Goulden said: “We’re delighted to be working with the highly progressive Central Bedfordshire council to make home charging available to the 40% of residents that don’t have a driveway. We know how difficult it is to make the switch to electric if charge points are expensive to use and too far away from home. Air pollution from vehicle emissions is a big problem in our towns and cities and accelerating the move to electric is key to solving it.”

Residents already taking part in the trial will test the channels before a possible wider rollout. In partnership with highways contractor, Milestone Infrastructure, 20 units have already been installed across Central Bedfordshire.

Central Bedfordshire resident, John Richards said: “Before I had my Kerbo charge channel, I would have to constantly plan my trips with meticulous detail. Kerbo has removed that worry and gives me total piece of mind, allowing me to drive with freedom. 

“Also, now I can have an EV without the need for a driveway, letting me do my bit to reduce emissions, something that would have been very difficult before Kerbo Charge existed. The Kerbo solution also allows councils to contribute to the growing need for EV charge points and gives them much more flexibility to be able to join the EV revolution.”

Cllr Tracey Wye, executive member for sustainability and climate resilience, said: “The feedback from the Kerbo trial will help us fully understand the suitability of this new cable channel as just one of our options for electric vehicle charging in Central Bedfordshire.”

She added: “The council’s sustainability plan sets out a clear 'road map' of commitments and projects for the Central Bedfordshire area to be net zero carbon by 2030. Pilots such as these are a key factor in helping us achieve that aim.”

Kerbo Charge is now available at various local authorities, including Surrey, Nottinghamshire and Milton Keynes, so any resident interested in our solution can find out if they are eligible at www.kerbocharge.com/enter-your-postcode.