Charging without a driveway

[Sarkmeister]

Afternoon all.

I currently have a Tesla Model Y company car (since March), which I got despite not having a driveway to charge it on. So far I have been using the charger at work (fairly cheap at 27p/kWh) and a few local chargers (expensive at 40-50p/kWh).

At the moment the charging is costing more that I expected so I make a loss on business travel. I'm therefore considering charging occasionally at home as we are still fortunately on a pretty cheap deal until January (17p/kWh).

Has anyone got experience of trailing a cable across the pavement to charge their car?

We live in a victorian terrace, so only have a small front yard. The cable wouldn't need to be too long and only cross 3ft ish of pavement, and I can generally park directly outside. My intention would be to only charge at night, removing the cable int the day, and to cover it with one of those black/yellow cable protection things. It would be plugged into a socket in the hallway.

Is this a really stupid thing to do? I think it technically is illegal, but does anyone really care?

(We are moving house in the new year so I'm hoping this is a temporary issue).

[TheDeuce]

Sarkmeister said:

Afternoon all.

I currently have a Tesla Model Y company car (since March), which I got despite not having a driveway to charge it on. So far I have been using the charger at work (fairly cheap at 27p/kWh) and a few local chargers (expensive at 40-50p/kWh).

At the moment the charging is costing more that I expected so I make a loss on business travel. I'm therefore considering charging occasionally at home as we are still fortunately on a pretty cheap deal until January (17p/kWh).

Has anyone got experience of trailing a cable across the pavement to charge their car?

We live in a victorian terrace, so only have a small front yard. The cable wouldn't need to be too long and only cross 3ft ish of pavement, and I can generally park directly outside. My intention would be to only charge at night, removing the cable int the day, and to cover it with one of those black/yellow cable protection things. It would be plugged into a socket in the hallway.

Is this a really stupid thing to do? I think it technically is illegal, but does anyone really care?

(We are moving house in the new year so I'm hoping this is a temporary issue).

Check with the council in your area. Several have accepted the use of cable ramps, in the same way they accept the use of them to cover power cables for roadworks etc.



Just an example, you could probably make it even neater with a little care.

I think at the moment this is a relatively safe grey area - the officials can't clamp down on it until they can offer a real solution for street charging of EV's - because if they did, the question would be raised as to why we're being forced into EV ownership if there isn't such a solution. I expect that's why several councils have said the cable ramps are fine, because there isn't really a better solution or policy in place.

[mattyprice4004]

Cable ramps are used around here without issue - as long as it looks ‘good’ I can’t see it being a problem

[Sarkmeister]

Cheers

Thats the response I was hoping for. I think if I make it neat, and do it sparingly (at night), then I'm hoping it wont be a problem.

[TheRainMaker]

Like TheDeuce has said, you need to check with your council.

Surrey state it is illegal

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/su...

[ashenfie]

TheRainMaker said:

Like TheDeuce has said, you need to check with your council.

Surrey state it is illegal

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/su...

Sounds extremely risky either way. Running cables across public land without insurance is bound to end badly.

[Saleen836]

ashenfie said:

TheRainMaker said:

Like TheDeuce has said, you need to check with your council.

Surrey state it is illegal

https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/su...

Sounds extremely risky either way. Running cables across public land without insurance is bound to end badly.

How long before the 'no win no fee' mob get in on this and start to file claims for personal injury caused by a trip hazzard I wonder

[Rozzers]

That doesn’t look easy for someone with a wheelchair, or for a young kid on a bike, awkward for the vision impaired too.

I think the Council should line up approved contractors to install flush access systems and if you need one you pay for it, just like the drop kerb scheme.

[OutInTheShed]

The other way is to run the cable more than 2m above the pavement, I've seen a couple of amusing solutions to this.

[anonymous-user]

OutInTheShed said:

The other way is to run the cable more than 2m above the pavement, I've seen a couple of amusing solutions to this.

I have as well, the cable slung out of the bedroom window and across to the offside of the car

I regret not stopping to take a picture it was that 'dumb'
It was that first house.

[Howitzer]

I’ve seen the nicely done set ups where there is a trench in the ground and a rubber lip across it hiding the cable.

My cousin in a wheelchair is seeing more and more cables and it’s making his already difficult life more difficult. I don’t think it should be allowed.

Dave!

[Rushjob]

Howitzer said:

I’ve seen the nicely done set ups where there is a trench in the ground and a rubber lip across it hiding the cable.

My cousin in a wheelchair is seeing more and more cables and it’s making his already difficult life more difficult. I don’t think it should be allowed.

Dave!

Gul-e is one answer, currently underway in Oxfordshire. but you still need to be able to park outside your house of course.........

[OutInTheShed]

In the early 90s, when Cable TV started to happen, some contractors fitted cable ducts etc the whole length of our street, under paving slabs, in one day while I was out at work. People didn't notice the job had been done and were still moaning about the anticipated disruption a week later.

[anonymous-user]

The answer is easy. It will be illegal unless you pay a council approved contractor 4 grand to do it on your behalf.....

[V8 Bob]

Check your house insurance covers whatever solution you decide on. An injury to a pedestrian could prove very expensive.

[300bhp/ton]

TheDeuce said:

Check with the council in your area. Several have accepted the use of cable ramps, I expect that's why several councils have said the cable ramps are fine, because there isn't really a better solution or policy in place.

I'd suspect that should something happen and someone feel and was injured, you'd be on shaky ground, regardless.

[Sarkmeister]

Thanks for the follow up responses. Maybe needs a bit more thought. Might get in touch with the council.

As for prams/wheelchairs etc, I was hoping that only doing this very late at night would minimise the risk (I leave early for work some days at 5am so would do it then).

[nickpan]

I do it one a week in zone 2 London outside my Victorian terrace.

I experimented with many cable covers - some of which were obviously going to be troublesome for wheelchair and pram users so I eventually settled for a heavy duty cable mat designed for purpose (it’s on Amazon) which sits a lot more flush to the ground and has a much shallower gradient run up than the examples above.

It works a treat and many of my neighbours have followed suit.

It is impossible to miss given its size and colour scheme (yellow and black like a bumble bee) and due to how flush it sits, I think the overall risk to society is minimal. That is to say, I think the potholes, uneven paving stones and broken street curbs present as much greater risks to pedestrians.

I think we all need to be pragmatic when evaluating the risks here until the public charging infrastructure in cities is up to speed.

[Fleckers]

Just wait for the local “ yoofs “ to come by at night and unplug you car lol

[TheDeuce]

300bhp/ton said:

TheDeuce said:

Check with the council in your area. Several have accepted the use of cable ramps, I expect that's why several councils have said the cable ramps are fine, because there isn't really a better solution or policy in place.

I'd suspect that should something happen and someone feel and was injured, you'd be on shaky ground, regardless.

Perhaps, although if you have checked and the council agree it ok, I'd have thought you would have a leg to stand on.

What can we say is the sensible approach though? The fact is the local authorities generally don't have a firm policy or plan in place yet people need to charge the card they're being told by central government they have to transistion to.

I'd say that in most cases being sensible and thoughtful, even if it means spending some decent money, could achieve a solution that isn't at all likely to inconvenience others or end in disaster.