Household EV charging options are currently limited, especially for households who do not have access to off-street parking.
Traditional EV charging options include trailing charger cables across the pavement, creating trip hazards and diminishing mobility, or relying upon public charging points such as on-street charging or public car parks.
It is estimated that currently 24.6% of UK households (6.6 million households) do not have access to off-street parking and cannot charge electric vehicles at home.
We have previously trialled our Go Ultra Low Oxford project to explore different charging solutions for residents without driveways. What we have learnt from this is continuing to inform ongoing projects.
Gul-e
Gul-e is an innovative electric vehicle (EV) charging solution created by ODS.
Gul-e provides a durable gully / channel that is installed in the footway, to enable smooth home EV charging for homes without driveways. The user parks in front of their home, presses the charging cable into the gully and plugs their vehicle into their home charger.
Benefits of the Gul-e charger include:
- Secure and seamless cable gully recessed in the footway
- Encourages overnight charging, reducing network grid pressures
- Removes trip hazards by safely securing the cable out of the way for pedestrians
- Unobtrusive design that minimises street clutter
- Reduces on-street EV charging infrastructure spend
Expression of interest for local authorities
ODS is now taking expressions of interest from local councils across the UK, individual residents, fleet operators, and private businesses.
You can find out more on the Gul-e website.
OXLEVI gulley programme
Oxfordshire County Council have secured Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Pilot funding to help keep costs low and run a large-scale pilot to install 500 EV cable gullies across Oxfordshire, aiming to test the business case to run a future new resident-funded service.
Applications from the public for cable gullies will be considered on a first come, first served basis, and will include a site safety assessment by highway officers. Oxfordshire County Council will run the application process, which is due to open in the spring of 2025.
If you have previously expressed an interest in the Gul-e website, you will be notified when the application process opens.
People who are successful in their applications will be expected to arrange the installation of their own EV charging unit (including applying for planning permission for the charger) and will need to enter into a licensing agreement with Oxfordshire County Council for the use of the cable channel.
