On-Street EV Charging: Your Guide to Charging Without a Driveway
Summary
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at on-street EV charging, and how it can help you stay on top of your charging demands even without a home charge point.
What Is On-Street Charging?
On-street EV charging refers to EV charging infrastructure designed for drivers who are using on-street parking. On-street charge points are generally installed and managed by local councils, with the work subsidised by the government’s On-Street Residential Charge Point Scheme.
On-street EV charge points are often installed in converted lamp posts or bollard-style chargers, designed to fit neatly into their surroundings. The majority of on-street EV charge points in the UK are pay-as-you-go, often with the option to pay through an EV charging app that collates chargers from multiple networks, such as Zapmap.
As on-street EV charging stations are designed for cars that are parked in one spot for a longer period of time, they tend to have a lower rate of charge compared to rapid en-route chargers. This makes them ideal for overnight charging for drivers in built-up urban areas, who may not have access to their own private parking where a charge point could be installed.
How Quick Are On-Street Charging Points in the UK?
The speed of on-street charging points can vary significantly depending on the type of charger installed. Most on-street chargers fall into the following two categories:
- Standard or Slow Chargers (3–7 kW): These are ideal for overnight or long-term parking. A 7 kW charger, for example, can take around 6–10 hours to fully charge an average EV, depending on the battery size. A 3 kW charger will take longer, often requiring 12–20 hours for a full charge.
- Fast Chargers (11–22 kW): Fast chargers are less common but are sometimes installed in areas where quicker top-ups are needed. A 22 kW charger can typically provide a full charge in 3–5 hours, making it a good option for daytime use or shorter parking periods.
The type of charger you’ll encounter depends on local infrastructure and demand. To plan your charging efficiently, apps like Zapmap or PlugShare can help you identify the speed and type of on-street chargers in your area.
On-street charging is designed to integrate seamlessly with your daily routine, allowing you to park and power up simultaneously. Whether it’s a slow overnight charge or a faster session while you run errands, on-street chargers can offer a practical and accessible option for EV owners.
Benefits of On-Street EV Charging
There are a range of benefits that on-street EV charging can have for drivers, the communities where they’re installed, and the wider adoption of electric vehicles over conventional petrol and diesel cars.
Here’s a look at some of the key advantages that on-street EV charging can offer.
How Does On-Street EV Charging Work?
Public EV charging on streets around the UK is facilitated through various models of EV chargers, designed to be incorporated with surrounding residential infrastructure and provide charging access in a convenient, space-efficient manner.
Some of the most common designs for on-street EV charging stations include:
- Converted lamp posts.
- Standalone bollard-style chargers.
- Charger boxes attached to existing lamp posts, bollards or walls.
With their emphasis on space efficiency and universal access, the majority of on-street EV chargers don’t have tethered cables, and will require you to use your own EV charging cable.
The way you pay for residential on-street EV charging will vary depending on the network maintaining it and the individual charging point, but generally you can make payments using the same methods used for other public charging solutions, such as:
- Contactless credit or debit card payments using a reader installed on the charging point.
- Network charging apps that allow you to pay for charging across several different providers.
- Network-specific apps allowing you to make mobile payments to charging points operated by a single network.
- RFID cards distributed and managed by a single network. (Note that this payment method is being phased out across major charging networks)
When using a new on-street charging point, be sure to follow the provider’s instructions carefully and check for any nuances that might make your charging experience different to what you’re used to.
Like with any public chargers, it’s important to stick to the rules of EV charging etiquette by keeping track of how long your car has been plugged in, and moving it once you’ve finished charging to make room for the next driver.
The UK’s On-Street Charging Network
While they’re not the majority, on-street charging networks in the UK have been growing steadily over the years to accommodate more drivers who can’t have home chargers or who need a top-up when they’re in built-up residential areas.
According to government figures, there were 22,199 designated on-street chargers in the UK as of April 2024, representing around 37% of all the UK’s public charging devices. This is compared to 27,583 destination chargers, covering roughly 46% of the country’s public charging infrastructure.
While on-street chargers are manufactured and maintained by private companies, there are government initiatives in place which use public funds to support the construction of new on-street charge points and expand EV accessibility.
The main project in this space is the government’s On-Street Residential Charge Point Scheme, which offers grants to local councils to install on-street charging points, contributing up to £7,500 towards each new charge point.
Some of the main UK on-street EV charging providers include:
- Mer
- Connected Kerb
- Pod Point
- Ubitricity
- Dragon Charging
- Source London
Who Qualifies for the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme?
The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) supports local authorities in providing accessible, convenient charging options for residents without access to off-street parking. UK local authorities—including county councils, unitary authorities, London boroughs, and parish councils—are eligible to apply, helping to expand EV charging infrastructure and meet the needs of their communities.
How to Find On-Street EV Chargers
As the EV market has expanded in-line with the demand for on-street EV charging, various apps and online platforms have been released to help drivers find on-street EV chargers suited to their needs.
With these apps, you’ll be able to see the locations of on-street EV chargers near you, filter them by different distinguishing features, and even use community features to share your experience with other EV drivers.
Some of the most popular apps for finding on-street EV chargers include:
- Zapmap: Android | iOS
- PlugShare: Android | iOS
- Octopus Electroverse: Android | iOS
- Google Maps: Android | iOS
If you find that your area’s on-street parking isn’t particularly close or convenient, you may be able to ask your local authority to install one near you using the On-Street Residential Charge Point Scheme.
Each council will have a slightly different system for dealing with these requests, with some maintaining a dedicated contact form for requesting chargers, and others addressing them on a more ad-hoc basis through their normal contact channels.
The basic steps to request on-street charging installation from your local authority are as follows:
- Search on the web for terms like “EV charging [your local authority]” to check if your council has a dedicated channel for requesting chargers.
- Fill in the required information in the council’s EV charger request form, or the general contact form if they don’t have one. Remember that councils tend to prioritise current EV owners who don’t live in close proximity to alternative public charging, and those who live in areas where it’s particularly difficult to install home chargers. Be sure to include as much detail as possible to maximise the chances of your request being accepted.
- On-street charger installation is usually based on demand, so you can strengthen your request to the council by networking with other EV drivers in your area and encouraging them to make their own requests. Local social media groups or council forums can be good platforms to reach out to other drivers and lobby your local authority to install on-street chargers.
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