Electric vehicles can be charged at home in situations where properties have access to off-street parking. This is being provided for in new developments via planning policy. For existing housing, homeowners can consider the following:
- Installation of a charging point on their driveway/privately owned land.
- Joint installation on private car parks related to flatted properties – this will likely require discussion and agreement with all combined owners (normally through a central factor).
Private On-street Charging
You cannot run a temporary or permanent cable over a public road or pavement, even with a cable cover or channel. This is because footways must be clear for pedestrians and people using wheelchairs and the cable would be dangerous for people with impaired vision or mobility issues and the owner would be held liable for any injury.
Under Section 109 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and Sections 56 and 90 of the Roads (Scotland) Act it is not permitted to place apparatus, including a cable or wire in, over, along or across a public road (which includes the footway) without the consent of the roads authority.
Not all homeowners will be able to install a charger on their property and will need to access charging locations away from their home. Therefore, purchasers of EVs who do not have access to off-street parking should base any decision to purchase an EV on availability and proximity to publicly and privately available charging locations.
There are a number of public electric vehicle charge points located throughout the city provided by both the Council and private sector operators in a range of locations. The locations of existing charge points can be found, along with other useful information on public charging on the Drive Dundee Electric website.