Key facts
- Council scheme
- EV Cable Channel Subsidy: for eligible residents, Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) funding can cover the cost of fitting the pavement channel. You still need to pay for a licence, and grants may be available towards the home chargepoint itself.
- Cross-pavement policy
- Allowed with a licence from Cornwall Council as highway authority. The council has approved Kerbo Charge channels. No designated parking bay is provided, cables must be the ones supplied for charging (no extension leads) and there must be no other channel or electrical street furniture within 2.5m of your car.
- Charging hubs
- £5.5 million of government funding is paying for up to 2,000 new chargepoints, starting in council car parks with a phased introduction of on-street charging. Council-owned chargepoints are operated by EVOLT.
Charging an EV in Cornwall without a driveway
Cornwall is a largely rural county, so public charging can be patchy away from the main towns. The good news for households without a driveway is that Cornwall Council can pay for a pavement cable channel so you can charge from your own home charger.
Your options
- Pavement cable channel – apply to the council; LEVI funding can cover fitting the channel, but you'll still need a licence and a home charger.
- Council car park chargers – a growing network operated by EVOLT; parking charges may apply.
- New on-street charging – being introduced in phases as part of the 2,000-chargepoint programme.
Before you apply
You'll usually need planning permission for a home charger if you don't have off-street parking, so factor that in.
Check Cornwall Council's website for the latest eligibility and licence costs.
Related: New pavement channel rules from 21 October 2026 · How to charge an electric car without a driveway · All council guides
Frequently asked questions
Last updated 16 October 2026