Charging Your EV When You Park on the Street

Millions of UK homes have no driveway. If that includes yours, home charging is still possible — but it takes a longer cable, the right safety gear, and an understanding of what your local council allows. Here is what you actually need.

How long does the cable need to be?

The distance from your outdoor socket or wallbox to a car parked at the kerb is usually 6–10 metres once you factor in the run down the wall, across the pavement and into the inlet. Measure it. Most people find a 10m cable is enough; if your car sits a couple of spaces down, go to 15m to avoid straining the connectors.

Ordering shorter than you need creates problems. A taut cable is a trip hazard even with a ramp cover, and it stresses the connectors at both ends. A cable with a bit of slack lies flat and causes no issues.

Browse our 10m Type 2 cables or 15m Type 2 cables if you need the extra reach.

Do you need a cable ramp cover?

Yes, in almost every case. A cable laid flat across a pavement is a tripping hazard for pedestrians, especially wheelchair users, pushchair users and people with visual impairments. Most local authorities explicitly require a cable ramp (also called a cable protector or pavement cover) whenever a cable crosses a public pavement.

The cover raises the cable off the ground inside a rubber or plastic channel, creating a sloped ramp on either side that pedestrians, cycles and mobility scooters can cross safely. We stock a pedestrian-grade pavement cover that fits Type 2 cables up to 36mm diameter.

Do not use a standard cable cover from a hardware store — they are not rated for outdoor use on a public pavement and will crack in frost.

What power supply can you use?

You cannot run a cable through a window from an indoor socket. Apart from the fire risk, a standard 13A plug used for several hours draws close to its rated limit and the connector heats up — this is how EV fires from domestic plugs start.

You need one of the following:

• A dedicated outdoor socket: A 13A weatherproof socket fitted outside by an electrician, used with a portable EVSE (the box on your cable). This is slow — around 2.3kW — but legal and safe for overnight charging.
• A wallbox: A 7.4kW or 22kW unit fitted to an outside wall, close enough to reach the car. This is the fastest and cleanest solution, and qualifies for the OZEV workplace grant if you have on-street parking through your employer.

Is it legal to charge across the pavement?

There is no UK law that prohibits it, but you are responsible for the cable once it crosses your property boundary. If someone trips on it, you could be liable. The practical safeguards are:

• Use a cable ramp cover whenever the cable is laid
• Do not leave the cable unattended for extended periods during the day when foot traffic is high
• Check your local authority's guidance — some have introduced specific rules, and a small number of London boroughs require a notification before installing an outdoor socket or wallbox for on-street use

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) published guidance in 2022 recommending local authorities accommodate on-street charging rather than prohibit it, so most councils are supportive. Pavements with dedicated EV charging provision (such as gully cables under the pavement) are a different category and governed by separate rules.

Can you lock the cable to the car?

Some EVs lock the cable to both the car inlet and the wallbox/socket automatically when charging begins. The lock releases when you stop the session via the app or card. If yours does not — older PHEVs and some imported cars do not — a cable holster on the wallbox side protects the wallbox end, though the car end is harder to secure without a dedicated cable lock wrap.

Most Type 2 cables cannot be locked to the car without the car's own locking mechanism. This is a known limitation. Charging overnight when foot traffic is low is the most practical solution for on-street situations where theft is a concern.

What about communal car parks and shared driveways?

The same rules apply, but the distances can be longer. A communal car park might need a 20m or 25m cable if the socket is fitted on the building wall. Check with your building management before running any cable across shared areas — some blocks have rules about cables in common areas, and some will have installed dedicated EV charge points for residents that make this moot.