Around 9.3 million households in Great Britain – roughly a third of homes – have no off-street parking (Field Dynamics / Zapmap). If you're one of them, you can still run an electric car. You just need a plan.
Here are your options, from cheapest to most expensive per mile.
1. Charge at home with a pavement cable channel
A pavement cable channel is a flush channel set into the footway, so the cable from your home charger can reach your car at the kerb safely. It lets you use a cheap overnight EV tariff – around 7.6p per kWh on a popular smart tariff in October 2026.
- New for England: from 21 October 2026, a qualifying channel normally won't need a separate planning application. Read what's changed.
- You still need your council on board. Schemes, costs and eligibility vary widely. Check your council.
- No reserved space. If someone parks outside your house, you'll need a fallback.
2. Lamppost and on-street chargers
Many councils, especially in London, have converted lampposts or added kerbside chargers. They're usually slower and cheaper than rapid chargers, which makes overnight charging near home realistic.
Coverage is a postcode lottery. In 2024, only about a quarter of homes without a driveway had a public charger within a five-minute walk. That ranged from 99% in boroughs like Westminster to just 1.3% in North East Derbyshire.
3. Workplace charging
If your employer has chargers, this can be one of the cheapest and most convenient options. It's worth asking HR – grants are available to help businesses install them.
4. Supermarkets, gyms and car parks
"Destination" chargers let you top up while you shop or train. Slower public chargers averaged 54p per kWh in September 2026 (Zapmap).
5. Rapid and ultra-rapid hubs
Fast and convenient, but the priciest way to charge – an average of 79p per kWh in September 2026 (Zapmap). Relying on these alone can wipe out much of an EV's running-cost advantage over petrol.
Which option is right for you?
| Your situation | Best bet |
|---|---|
| You own your home, park outside it, and your council allows channels | Pavement cable channel + EV tariff |
| A lamppost or on-street charger within a few minutes' walk | On-street charging overnight |
| Chargers at work | Workplace charging, topped up elsewhere |
| None of the above | Think carefully – a plug-in hybrid or efficient petrol car may cost less |
Don't forget pay-per-mile from 2028
From April 2028, electric cars will pay 3p per mile in Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), on top of standard road tax. Plug-in hybrids pay 1.5p. It narrows the gap with petrol, especially if you rely on public charging.
Our fuel vs electric cost calculator is coming soon, so you can test all of this against your own mileage.
General information only, not financial advice. Prices change frequently – check current tariffs and charger prices before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Last updated 16 October 2026