THE SHORT ANSWER
Yes, but do the charging research before choosing the car. The best solutions are reliable workplace charging, nearby public chargers or a council-approved cross-pavement channel. Do not assume you can trail a cable across a public pavement—even under a temporary cover—because local rules and permission requirements vary.
Map a normal week of charging
Estimate your weekly mileage and divide it by the car's realistic miles per kWh. That gives the approximate energy you need to replace each week. Then identify chargers you can use while doing something else rather than making a separate journey purely to charge.
Check each charger's power, price, access hours, parking restrictions and recent reliability. Visit at the time you would normally use it; a charger that looks convenient on a map may be occupied every evening.
Your practical options
Workplace charging can make an EV straightforward even without a driveway. Local slow or fast chargers near home can also work well when overnight parking is permitted. Rapid hubs are useful for occasional top-ups, but relying on them for every charge can be expensive and time-consuming.
- Workplace charging: ask about price, availability and future demand.
- Residential public charging: check parking rules as well as the charging fee.
- Destination charging: supermarkets, gyms and leisure sites can cover part of your weekly mileage.
- Cross-pavement channel: a permanent recessed route for the cable, subject to council approval and local availability.
Cross-pavement charging needs permission
A channel or gully can allow a cable to cross the footway without leaving a loose trip hazard, but the highway is controlled by the local authority. Contact the council before buying equipment or arranging work.
Current government support includes a chargepoint grant for eligible households with on-street parking that install an approved cross-pavement solution. Eligibility, deadlines and local approval still need to be checked at the time of application.
When an EV may not yet be the right fit
If the only dependable option is expensive rapid charging far from home, calculate the annual cost before committing. A hybrid or keeping the existing car may be more practical until local charging improves. The answer can change quickly when a workplace or council installs new chargers.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
Can I run an EV cable across the pavement?
Do not assume that you can. The pavement is controlled by the local highway authority and loose cables can create a hazard. Ask your council about its policy and approved cross-pavement solutions.
Are there grants for EV charging without a driveway?
There is currently a UK government chargepoint grant for eligible households with on-street parking using an approved cross-pavement solution. Check the latest GOV.UK eligibility and deadline before spending money.
Is public charging too expensive for daily use?
It depends on the chargers available to you. Compare the pence-per-kWh price and any parking or membership fees with home electricity and your current fuel cost.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the current guidance
- GOV.UK: electric vehicle chargepoint grants
- Energy Saving Trust: public and home charging
- Energy Saving Trust: gaps in public charging
Rules, grants, tariffs and prices can change. Follow the linked source before making a financial or installation decision.