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How to increase access to EV chargers in your community

Whilst electric cars are the future of driving, getting access to an EV charger isn’t always easy.

Over 50% of drivers in the UK don’t have a driveway, so charging at home just isn’t possible. For drivers who rent their home, installing a charger may also be more challenging. Plus, as we all rely on cars for travel across the country, we’ll need convenient access to chargers however far from home we’re based.

Fortunately, there are several ways to ensure easy access to EV chargers in your community. Here are some of the best solutions…

Shared charging

As most privately-owned EV chargers aren’t in use for most of the time, renting out charging points is a great way to help a whole neighbourhood to make the switch to electric - and with more EVs in your neighbourhood, you'll benefit from cleaner air. Find out more about how to share your EV charger here.

There are various apps available which are designed to help EV drivers seeking local chargers to find ‘hosts’ in their area, who are happy to rent out their charger for a small fee. All bookings and payments are handled in the app, making the process simple and hassle-free.

Read Janine’s story to see how it could work for you.

Community charging

Commercial spaces like community centres, sports grounds, leisure centres and retail outlets have acres of car parking space which is accessible for local drivers - perfect for 'community overnight charging', to help support the local area in the transition to electric driving.

Through our partners, Action Net Zero are helping community centres and private landlords to set up charge points in public spaces; the right location just needs to have 24/7 access and no gates or restrictions.

Landowners and organisations can then benefit from a new revenue stream from charger usage, as well as being able to support cleaner air for our communities.

To find out how you can install a community charging point, book a time here for a free 45 minute consultation.

Workplace charging

A practical way for many people to charge their EVs is at their workplace, as their car can charge up during the work day, meaning there’s no need for a home charger. It also allows many people to share a single charge point, so installation is more cost-efficient and impactful.

There is funding available to encourage workplaces to install EV chargers - the Workplace Charging Scheme is a voucher-based scheme which can cover up to 75% of the cost at a maximum of £350 for each socket, for up to 40 sockets.

To be eligible, your workplace has to have a Companies House Reference Number, own the business premises or have the landlord's permission to install the chargers, and use an authorised EV charger installer.

Businesses who install workplace chargers benefit by reduced emissions, and being able to offer an appealing benefit for staff, as well as showcasing their green credentials with demonstrable activity.

Find out more about renting out your workplace charger here.

Local authority charging

If lots of people in your area could benefit from on-street EV charging, you can apply to your local authority to install local charging points.

The On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme provides funding for local authorities to help with the cost of installing on-street residential electric car chargers. The scheme, run by Energy Saving Trust for OLEV, has an allocated pot of money available to local authorities on a first-come, first served, basis.

The scheme involves converting street lights into EV charging points, making them accessible to people who regularly park on a street instead of a driveway. Not only is using the lamppost the cheapest way to install lots of public charge points (meaning lower charging costs for EV drivers), it’s also less invasive for your street, as it avoids adding bulky street furniture to pavements.

If you’d like a council charging point installed in your street, it’s best to approach your local authority directly. Most councils now have a page on their website which allows you to apply for a charging point - the easiest way to find it is to search “EV charging” or similar on their website.

The more residents that make a request, the more likely your council will take action, so rally your street to get a better chance of success!

Accessible charging

Whilst the number of public chargers available has increased by 35% since July 2021, this doesn’t solve the problem for many vehicle users…

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) are one of the many types of vehicle which is looking towards a greener, electric future. WAVs typically feature ramped or lift access to the rear or side of the vehicle, requiring extra space around the vehicle. Creating charging stations which are specifically designed for eletric WAVs will allow people with disabilities to charge their vehicle independently, without relying on fossil fuels.

Barriers include kerbs and bollards, which don’t allow people who use wheelchairs or mobility aids to get close enough to the charging unit. If the interface of the charging unit is too high, it’s also not possible to use it from a seated position.

Ensuring that all public EV charging points are accessible for people with disabilities is vital. This includes ensuring that EV charging bays are the same size as disabled parking bays, keeping them open and accessible for all, as well as developing public charging spaces with accesibility in mind. Following detailed research, a new British accessiblity standard for EV charging points has been revealed by Designability in collaboration with Motability to make EV chargers more accessible for wheelchair users - read more here.

You can find out more about electric WAVs through Motability.

If you'd like to know more about community charging, we can show you how to make it happen, and connect you with the right suppliers to help.

Simply book a time here for a free 45 minute consultation.