A white electric car parked at the kerb with a cable visible in the pavement which leads to the car charging port

A resident in Retford has become one of the latest to enjoy the benefits of Nottinghamshire County Council’s (NCC) EV Cable Channel (EVCC) Pilot Scheme.

The scheme is available to residents across Nottinghamshire and is part of a government-funded trial to better understand the range of solutions that are available for charging electric vehicles on the street.

A new cable channel, supplied by Kerbo Charge as one of the scheme’s trial solutions, was installed at the home owned by James Turver, one of the first installed in the Retford area. James’ application met the criteria for submission to the pilot which includes homes with no off-street parking, owning or leasing an EV vehicle, along with a charger that has been installed or is awaiting installation.

James said, “The channel is great; it does exactly what it’s meant to do without any issues. It’s a straightforward yet brilliant solution to a challenge that will only become more common as more people transition to electric vehicles in the coming years.

“It’s rare to find something so simple that works so well—I honestly can’t fault it at all.”

Councillor Neil Clarke MBE Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at NCC said, “We are delighted that residents like James have benefitted from the EV Cable Channel trial.

“As we steer our way through the EV transition journey, charging has become an increasing priority. It’s great to see the installation of the cable channel in Retford and the trial will enable us to test the plug and charge solutions which will be necessary for us to thrive in the future.

“One of the primary motivations for switching to an electric vehicle is to reduce your carbon footprint. We hope that the cable channel will make it easier for more of our residents to drive an electric vehicle. Plus, it will enable the council to determine if it can manage an adequate on-street charging infrastructure for people without driveways.”

The trial contributes to the goals set out in the Nottinghamshire Plan to ensure that more electric vehicle charging points are added across the county, while the adoption of new green technologies that protect our environment will play a key role in fulfilling the county’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions.

The work to install the cable channel involves cutting a groove into the footway outside residents’ homes which extends the EV charging cable from their home charge point to the public highway. This does away with the need to lay the charging cable on the pavement.

Residents who live in Nottinghamshire who have an EV or are planning to get one and have no access to off-street parking, are encouraged to apply to participate in the scheme. Residents who would like to see if they are eligible for a cable channel to be installed free of charge, can complete this form www.viaem.co.uk/evcc