"Through pavement" home charging trial in Milton Keynes extended

Milton Keynes City Council has announced it will be extending its electric car charging trial which enables home charging for motorists without off street parking.

In partnership with Kerbo Charge, the council initially trialled ‘through-pavement channels’ for six families who don’t have access to off street parking. The trial is now being extended for up to 100 electric vehicle users in Milton Keynes.

The product is installed in tarmac or stone pavements directly outside a customer’s home, creating a narrow channel (30mm deep, 42mm wide) with a hinged lid in which the user can easily place a charging cable, running it to their car with no trip hazards from trailing cables.

David Peake, a resident that took part in the initial trial has hailed the new technology as ‘transformational’. Prior to enrolling onto the trial he either needed to trail a cable over the pavement or drive a small distance to his nearest charge point. He and others now have a specially designed polymer channel with a self-closing lid in the pathway outside their house, which they can switch on using an app.

David Peake said: “The Kerbo Charge installation has been transformational for me because I can now safely charge my car at home and drive in electric mode every day, saving around 80 litres of petrol every week and slashing my emissions. Hats off to Milton Keynes City Council for leading the way with this new technology.”