How do I get an EV cable channel in Oxfordshire?

You must apply to Oxfordshire County Council, which manages the highway – you can't install one privately. The council surveys your street, and you'll also need the right permissions for your home charger.

How much does an Oxfordshire EV cable channel cost?

In the subsidised pilot, residents pay £300, covering the survey, installation and the first two years' licence, then around £100 a year. Once the subsidy runs out, residents may have to pay the full cost.

Do I get a reserved parking space with a cable channel?

No. A channel doesn't reserve the space outside your home, so you'll need a back-up plan, such as nearby public chargers.

Oxfordshire EV Cable Channels & No-Driveway Charging

Key facts

Council scheme: EV Cable Channel scheme run by Oxfordshire County Council. A £700,000 government grant subsidises the first 500 channels. In the pilot, residents pay £300 to the council, covering the survey, installation and the first two years' licence, then around £100 a year after that. Once the subsidy is used up, residents may have to pay the full cost.
Cross-pavement policy: Allowed, but only through the county council – you cannot install a channel privately. You must own and live in the property, have no off-road parking and be able to park legally outside. Your cable must be 16mm or less, you need at least £5 million third-party liability cover, and there must be no other channel or electrical street furniture within 2.5m of where you park.
Charging hubs: Oxfordshire's LEVI-funded programme aims to install at least 1,200 public chargers across the county by the end of 2027.

Visit the council's EV page

Charging an EV in Oxfordshire without a driveway

Around a third of Oxfordshire households don't have off-street parking, which is why the county council has gone further than most with EV cable channels – flush channels set into the pavement so a charging cable can run safely from your home charger to your car at the kerb.

How the scheme works

Check you're eligible (you own and live in the home, have no driveway and can park legally outside).
Apply to Oxfordshire County Council for a channel survey.
Once you have conditional approval, apply to your district council for planning permission for the home charger and arrange liability insurance.
The council installs the channel and issues your licence.

Costs at a glance

Pilot price: £300 (survey, installation and first two years' licence)
After year two: around £100 a year
Plus the cost of your home charger

Good to know

A channel doesn't give you a reserved parking space. If you can't park outside, public chargers are your fallback – and as the county's public network grows, more on-street options should appear.

Always check the council's own page for the latest eligibility and prices before applying.

Oxfordshire

Key facts

Charging an EV in Oxfordshire without a driveway

How the scheme works

Costs at a glance

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

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