Download Bonnet

Scan the QR code to download the app

How To Charge Electric Cars Without A Driveway

Published on
April 18, 2023

  • Home charging stations offer a convenient way to charge your car and are often the most affordable charging method. However, they are not an option for many drivers as you need a designated parking space to install them. 
  • However, that doesn’t mean you can’t own an EV without a driveway, as there are many ways to charge your electric car. 
  • It is possible to charge at your 3-pin plug with a domestic adapter, stretch the cable across the pavement, and charge your car. However, this can be unsafe, and councils can remove your cables.
  • You might find chargers at work, friends’ homes, and public charging stations. If there are no local on-street chargers, you can ask your local council to install some nearby.

Charging at home is perhaps the ideal way to charge. You can charge safely and securely overnight and wake up to a full battery. Home chargers generally charge fairly slowly, which is the best speed to charge if you want to prolong your battery life. Grants can help you afford a charging point at your home, but you can only apply for a grant if you have a place to park where a charging point can be installed.

For people without a driveway, this means they simply can’t have a home charging station and thus cannot enjoy any of these benefits, and it will be more inconvenient to charge. But does that mean drivers without a driveway shouldn’t buy an electric car? 

‍

Do You Need A Driveway To Get A Home Charging Point?

Sadly, yes. If you want a home charging point, you need to have a location where it can be installed, so if you have to park on the street outside your home, you cannot have one installed.  

Can You Run An Electric Car Charging Cable Across The Pavement?

You can buy very long charging cables and a domestic adapter that enables you to charge your car from your home’s power sockets. However, this is a very slow way to charge, and it will take hours to give you just 10% more battery life. But running a cable from your house over the pavement and into your car is theoretically possible. 

While some councils might allow you to do this, charging your car this way is generally not recommended. Firstly, you might not be able to stretch a cable that far, so you might need to use an extension lead, which can be dangerous to charge your car with. 

Laying a cable across the pavement is a serious hazard for pedestrians. No matter how careful you’re being, other stuff on the pavement can present hazards for passers-by, bins, recycling boxes, bikes and other parked cars, all adding to the potential hazard. If someone trips over the wire, it could have serious legal implications.

It might feel tempting to try and charge with a charging cable stretched to reach your car parked outside your home, but it’s probably best not to. It’s unsafe and charges so slowly that you’re better off charging elsewhere.

Can You Charge Electric Cars At Home If You Live In A Flat?

If you live in a flat, you can’t have a home charging point unless you have a designated parking space. This makes owning an EV hard, as even charging from your home with a domestic adapter is impossible. However, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be chargers nearby.

The EV infrastructure grant allows landlords to claim up to £500 per charging bay for up to 60 bays for their tenants. So if you live in a flat and own an EV, it might be worth chatting with your landlord about potentially adding charging points to residential parking spots. 

‍

Where Can You Charge Your EV Without A Driveway?

If you don’t own a home charging point or are unwilling to charge with a cable from a domestic adapter, does that mean you can’t own an EV? Of course not; home charging is the most convenient way to charge your EV, but it isn’t the only charging method.

Many other options are available, some of which provide much faster speeds than a home charging station. 

Public Charging Networks

Public charging stations are very simple to charge at; you simply drive to one and plug your charger in. The fastest chargers can substantially charge your car in minutes, although most will take longer. There are many different chargers all over the country, operated by many different networks.

Networks generally cover regional areas or destinations, meaning some networks provide chargers exclusively for a local area. In contrast, others provide chargers at destinations like supermarkets or service stations.

Public charging stations are usually located where there are things for you to do, like outside gyms, cinemas or restaurants, allowing you to do other things while your car is charging. 

Prices vary at public charging stations but are generally more expensive than at home. Many networks offer subscription models that offer you deals and discounts to help you save money. If there is a network with a conveniently located charger you regularly use, it may be worth paying for a subscription. If you use multiple charging networks and don’t want to pay for a subscription for each one, you should use Bonnet, which lets you connect to 17+ charging networks at a discount.

‍

On-Street Public Charging Points

If you’re looking for a substitute for a home charging point, you might be more interested in on-street networks that provide chargers alongside roads with the permission of local councils. These chargers are often retrofitted into bollards or lampposts and offer a convenient way to charge for people without a home charging point.

Generally, these chargers are pretty slow, so they are best used overnight. There are many different on-street networks in the UK, including:

‍

  • char.gy
  • Charge My Street
  • Connected Kerb
  • Source London.

‍

However, like with most public charging, these are more expensive than home charging points, so if you plan to use them regularly, you should look into a subscription.

Use Bonnet To Find The Nearest Public Charging Point

The best way to access on-street or any public charging is with Bonnet. Bonnet is our app that allows drivers to connect to 17+ charging networks across the UK, including on-street networks like Source London, Connected Kerb and char.gy. 

Bonnet offers membership options that save you up to 15% off all your EV charging at all our partners’ charging points. There are two membership options for drivers, although they can also use the app to connect to all 17+ stations without a membership.

Our first option is called Light Boost. Light Boost is just £2 monthly for 10% off all your charging at our partners’ stations. That’s just £24 annually for potentially hundreds of pounds of savings.

Our second option is named Turbo Boost. Turbo Boost is just £8 monthly for 15% off your charging. Turbo Boost is the ideal option for people without home charging points or a driveway where they can charge, as it allows them to save money on all their favourite networks. 

Are There Any Free Public Charging Networks?

Yes. Some public charging networks won’t cost you anything to charge at. However, there aren’t too many remaining; for example, Tesco used to provide free slow charging in its car parks but no longer does. Many free charging points are in Scotland’s ChargePlace Scotland network, although not all of their chargers are free. 

Tesla Destination has many free charging points across the country, although to use them, you must be a paying customer at the location where they are installed. 

How Long Will It Take To Charge At A Public Charging Station?

Charging time depends on which charging speed you use. There are four main charging speeds: slow (up to 3.6 kWh), fast (7 - 22 kWh), rapid (50 kWh) and ultra-rapid (50 kWh+). 

Generally, most chargers you’ll find in the UK are slow or fast chargers. Fast chargers will take a few hours to charge your car, while slow chargers will take up to a day to fill it up. Rarer rapid or ultra-rapid chargers could fill up your vehicle quickly in under an hour.

Networks offer a variety of charging speeds, although there are some networks that only offer specific speeds. Use Bonnet to check a charger’s speed before using it. 

Can You Leave Your Car At A Public Charger Overnight?

Technically, yes. However, it depends on the network. Rapid networks won’t want you to use their chargers overnight as your EV will be charged quickly, so the car will be dormant and stop other drivers from charging, but slower on-street networks will probably have no issue with charging overnight. However, it is best to check beforehand.  

‍

Charging At A Friend’s Charging Point

If you know an EV driver who has a home charging point, they might let you charge at their home. Charging at a friend’s house isn’t as convenient as charging at home, but it is still a good alternative to it. If you have no friends or family with a charger, you can always ask EV-driving neighbours if you can occasionally use their charging point.

Charging At Your Work

More and more employers are installing charging points in their parking spaces to help reduce their carbon impact and offer their employees easy charging. Workplace charging is a sensible and great way to charge if you have the option. Not all workplaces will have charging points; you might want to chat with your boss if yours doesn’t.

Businesses can apply for grants for charging spaces like landlords can, so installing one might be worth their time. Generally, work chargers are slow and use the universal socket, so you’ll need to bring your own cable to use one.

Charging Vans

Charging vans aren’t an option for most people as there aren’t many services in the country. However, some, like Charge Fairy in London, enable you to charge your car from outside your home. To charge your EV, they fit a charger into their van and simply connect your vehicle to their power source.

Their speeds are slow and relatively expensive, and this service isn’t offered everywhere, but it is a very convenient way of charging your car and a good alternative to home charging.

The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)

If none of the options outlined above is to your liking, you might be interested in contacting your local council and asking them to install a local charging point. ORCS is a government scheme organised by your local council that sets up charging points in areas to allow people to charge who can’t afford or don’t have a home charging point. 

There might be one in your area already, but if there isn’t, it might be worth your time to ask your local council about one. ORCS charging points are generally installed in discrete locations like lamp posts. To use them, you must bring your own cable.

‍

Should You Buy An EV If You Don’t Own A Driveway?

As this article outlines, you have many charging options if you don’t own a driveway. Public chargers are spread out across the country, so there is surely one near you; with discounts from Bonnet, public charging can be very affordable.

In 2030, there will be a ban on all new conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. In preparation for this date, the UK has become increasingly EV-friendly, and more charging infrastructure has been added to support the increased number of drivers. 

So even if there isn’t a charging option near you right now, there will certainly be one soon. Electric cars are still cost-effective to charge and are great to use, so if you’re on the fence, why not become an early adopter?

Find The Best Public Charging Points With Bonnet

Bonnet is the ideal way to find the best chargers near you and access them at a discount. A diverse range of charging networks work with our app, ensuring all our customers can always find a charger that suits their requirements.

Each charging network generally requires you to download an app before they let you charge at their points. If you charge at many networks, this can build up, and you’ll soon clutter your phone with countless apps just to access a handful of networks. Bonnet lets you connect to 17+ charging networks with just one app.

If you’re interested in finding the best chargers for you, whether you have a home charging point or not, you should download Bonnet today.

‍

FAQs

Can I have an electric car without a driveway?

Yes, you can own an electric car if you don’t have a driveway. You won’t be able to install a home charging point if you don’t have a designated parking spot, but you can still charge your car at work, with on-street chargers and at public charging stations.

How will people without driveways charge electric cars?

There are many ways for people to charge their cars, even if they don’t own a driveway. Your workplace might have chargers you can use, your friends might have a charger they’ll let you use, or a public charging station nearby might suit your needs. 

Can I run my electric charging cable across the pavement?

No legal restrictions stop you from running a charging cable across the pavement. However, the Highway Act allows councils to remove the cables, although councils may or may not do so. Running a cable across the pavement presents a hazard to pedestrians that could have legal implications.

April 5, 2023

Charging at home is perhaps the ideal way to charge. You can charge safely and securely overnight and wake up to a full battery. Home chargers generally charge fairly slowly, which is the best speed to charge if you want to prolong your battery life. Grants can help you afford a charging point at your home, but you can only apply for a grant if you have a place to park where a charging point can be installed.

For people without a driveway, this means they simply can’t have a home charging station and thus cannot enjoy any of these benefits, and it will be more inconvenient to charge. But does that mean drivers without a driveway shouldn’t buy an electric car? 

‍

Do You Need A Driveway To Get A Home Charging Point?

Sadly, yes. If you want a home charging point, you need to have a location where it can be installed, so if you have to park on the street outside your home, you cannot have one installed.  

Can You Run An Electric Car Charging Cable Across The Pavement?

You can buy very long charging cables and a domestic adapter that enables you to charge your car from your home’s power sockets. However, this is a very slow way to charge, and it will take hours to give you just 10% more battery life. But running a cable from your house over the pavement and into your car is theoretically possible. 

While some councils might allow you to do this, charging your car this way is generally not recommended. Firstly, you might not be able to stretch a cable that far, so you might need to use an extension lead, which can be dangerous to charge your car with. 

Laying a cable across the pavement is a serious hazard for pedestrians. No matter how careful you’re being, other stuff on the pavement can present hazards for passers-by, bins, recycling boxes, bikes and other parked cars, all adding to the potential hazard. If someone trips over the wire, it could have serious legal implications.

It might feel tempting to try and charge with a charging cable stretched to reach your car parked outside your home, but it’s probably best not to. It’s unsafe and charges so slowly that you’re better off charging elsewhere.

Can You Charge Electric Cars At Home If You Live In A Flat?

If you live in a flat, you can’t have a home charging point unless you have a designated parking space. This makes owning an EV hard, as even charging from your home with a domestic adapter is impossible. However, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be chargers nearby.

The EV infrastructure grant allows landlords to claim up to £500 per charging bay for up to 60 bays for their tenants. So if you live in a flat and own an EV, it might be worth chatting with your landlord about potentially adding charging points to residential parking spots. 

‍

Where Can You Charge Your EV Without A Driveway?

If you don’t own a home charging point or are unwilling to charge with a cable from a domestic adapter, does that mean you can’t own an EV? Of course not; home charging is the most convenient way to charge your EV, but it isn’t the only charging method.

Many other options are available, some of which provide much faster speeds than a home charging station. 

Public Charging Networks

Public charging stations are very simple to charge at; you simply drive to one and plug your charger in. The fastest chargers can substantially charge your car in minutes, although most will take longer. There are many different chargers all over the country, operated by many different networks.

Networks generally cover regional areas or destinations, meaning some networks provide chargers exclusively for a local area. In contrast, others provide chargers at destinations like supermarkets or service stations.

Public charging stations are usually located where there are things for you to do, like outside gyms, cinemas or restaurants, allowing you to do other things while your car is charging. 

Prices vary at public charging stations but are generally more expensive than at home. Many networks offer subscription models that offer you deals and discounts to help you save money. If there is a network with a conveniently located charger you regularly use, it may be worth paying for a subscription. If you use multiple charging networks and don’t want to pay for a subscription for each one, you should use Bonnet, which lets you connect to 17+ charging networks at a discount.

‍

On-Street Public Charging Points

If you’re looking for a substitute for a home charging point, you might be more interested in on-street networks that provide chargers alongside roads with the permission of local councils. These chargers are often retrofitted into bollards or lampposts and offer a convenient way to charge for people without a home charging point.

Generally, these chargers are pretty slow, so they are best used overnight. There are many different on-street networks in the UK, including:

‍

  • char.gy
  • Charge My Street
  • Connected Kerb
  • Source London.

‍

However, like with most public charging, these are more expensive than home charging points, so if you plan to use them regularly, you should look into a subscription.

Use Bonnet To Find The Nearest Public Charging Point

The best way to access on-street or any public charging is with Bonnet. Bonnet is our app that allows drivers to connect to 17+ charging networks across the UK, including on-street networks like Source London, Connected Kerb and char.gy. 

Bonnet offers membership options that save you up to 15% off all your EV charging at all our partners’ charging points. There are two membership options for drivers, although they can also use the app to connect to all 17+ stations without a membership.

Our first option is called Light Boost. Light Boost is just £2 monthly for 10% off all your charging at our partners’ stations. That’s just £24 annually for potentially hundreds of pounds of savings.

Our second option is named Turbo Boost. Turbo Boost is just £8 monthly for 15% off your charging. Turbo Boost is the ideal option for people without home charging points or a driveway where they can charge, as it allows them to save money on all their favourite networks. 

Are There Any Free Public Charging Networks?

Yes. Some public charging networks won’t cost you anything to charge at. However, there aren’t too many remaining; for example, Tesco used to provide free slow charging in its car parks but no longer does. Many free charging points are in Scotland’s ChargePlace Scotland network, although not all of their chargers are free. 

Tesla Destination has many free charging points across the country, although to use them, you must be a paying customer at the location where they are installed. 

How Long Will It Take To Charge At A Public Charging Station?

Charging time depends on which charging speed you use. There are four main charging speeds: slow (up to 3.6 kWh), fast (7 - 22 kWh), rapid (50 kWh) and ultra-rapid (50 kWh+). 

Generally, most chargers you’ll find in the UK are slow or fast chargers. Fast chargers will take a few hours to charge your car, while slow chargers will take up to a day to fill it up. Rarer rapid or ultra-rapid chargers could fill up your vehicle quickly in under an hour.

Networks offer a variety of charging speeds, although there are some networks that only offer specific speeds. Use Bonnet to check a charger’s speed before using it. 

Can You Leave Your Car At A Public Charger Overnight?

Technically, yes. However, it depends on the network. Rapid networks won’t want you to use their chargers overnight as your EV will be charged quickly, so the car will be dormant and stop other drivers from charging, but slower on-street networks will probably have no issue with charging overnight. However, it is best to check beforehand.  

‍

Charging At A Friend’s Charging Point

If you know an EV driver who has a home charging point, they might let you charge at their home. Charging at a friend’s house isn’t as convenient as charging at home, but it is still a good alternative to it. If you have no friends or family with a charger, you can always ask EV-driving neighbours if you can occasionally use their charging point.

Charging At Your Work

More and more employers are installing charging points in their parking spaces to help reduce their carbon impact and offer their employees easy charging. Workplace charging is a sensible and great way to charge if you have the option. Not all workplaces will have charging points; you might want to chat with your boss if yours doesn’t.

Businesses can apply for grants for charging spaces like landlords can, so installing one might be worth their time. Generally, work chargers are slow and use the universal socket, so you’ll need to bring your own cable to use one.

Charging Vans

Charging vans aren’t an option for most people as there aren’t many services in the country. However, some, like Charge Fairy in London, enable you to charge your car from outside your home. To charge your EV, they fit a charger into their van and simply connect your vehicle to their power source.

Their speeds are slow and relatively expensive, and this service isn’t offered everywhere, but it is a very convenient way of charging your car and a good alternative to home charging.

The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)

If none of the options outlined above is to your liking, you might be interested in contacting your local council and asking them to install a local charging point. ORCS is a government scheme organised by your local council that sets up charging points in areas to allow people to charge who can’t afford or don’t have a home charging point. 

There might be one in your area already, but if there isn’t, it might be worth your time to ask your local council about one. ORCS charging points are generally installed in discrete locations like lamp posts. To use them, you must bring your own cable.

‍

Should You Buy An EV If You Don’t Own A Driveway?

As this article outlines, you have many charging options if you don’t own a driveway. Public chargers are spread out across the country, so there is surely one near you; with discounts from Bonnet, public charging can be very affordable.

In 2030, there will be a ban on all new conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. In preparation for this date, the UK has become increasingly EV-friendly, and more charging infrastructure has been added to support the increased number of drivers. 

So even if there isn’t a charging option near you right now, there will certainly be one soon. Electric cars are still cost-effective to charge and are great to use, so if you’re on the fence, why not become an early adopter?

Find The Best Public Charging Points With Bonnet

Bonnet is the ideal way to find the best chargers near you and access them at a discount. A diverse range of charging networks work with our app, ensuring all our customers can always find a charger that suits their requirements.

Each charging network generally requires you to download an app before they let you charge at their points. If you charge at many networks, this can build up, and you’ll soon clutter your phone with countless apps just to access a handful of networks. Bonnet lets you connect to 17+ charging networks with just one app.

If you’re interested in finding the best chargers for you, whether you have a home charging point or not, you should download Bonnet today.

‍

  • Home charging stations offer a convenient way to charge your car and are often the most affordable charging method. However, they are not an option for many drivers as you need a designated parking space to install them. 
  • However, that doesn’t mean you can’t own an EV without a driveway, as there are many ways to charge your electric car. 
  • It is possible to charge at your 3-pin plug with a domestic adapter, stretch the cable across the pavement, and charge your car. However, this can be unsafe, and councils can remove your cables.
  • You might find chargers at work, friends’ homes, and public charging stations. If there are no local on-street chargers, you can ask your local council to install some nearby.

Charging at home is perhaps the ideal way to charge. You can charge safely and securely overnight and wake up to a full battery. Home chargers generally charge fairly slowly, which is the best speed to charge if you want to prolong your battery life. Grants can help you afford a charging point at your home, but you can only apply for a grant if you have a place to park where a charging point can be installed.

For people without a driveway, this means they simply can’t have a home charging station and thus cannot enjoy any of these benefits, and it will be more inconvenient to charge. But does that mean drivers without a driveway shouldn’t buy an electric car? 

‍

Do You Need A Driveway To Get A Home Charging Point?

Sadly, yes. If you want a home charging point, you need to have a location where it can be installed, so if you have to park on the street outside your home, you cannot have one installed.  

Can You Run An Electric Car Charging Cable Across The Pavement?

You can buy very long charging cables and a domestic adapter that enables you to charge your car from your home’s power sockets. However, this is a very slow way to charge, and it will take hours to give you just 10% more battery life. But running a cable from your house over the pavement and into your car is theoretically possible. 

While some councils might allow you to do this, charging your car this way is generally not recommended. Firstly, you might not be able to stretch a cable that far, so you might need to use an extension lead, which can be dangerous to charge your car with. 

Laying a cable across the pavement is a serious hazard for pedestrians. No matter how careful you’re being, other stuff on the pavement can present hazards for passers-by, bins, recycling boxes, bikes and other parked cars, all adding to the potential hazard. If someone trips over the wire, it could have serious legal implications.

It might feel tempting to try and charge with a charging cable stretched to reach your car parked outside your home, but it’s probably best not to. It’s unsafe and charges so slowly that you’re better off charging elsewhere.

Can You Charge Electric Cars At Home If You Live In A Flat?

If you live in a flat, you can’t have a home charging point unless you have a designated parking space. This makes owning an EV hard, as even charging from your home with a domestic adapter is impossible. However, this doesn’t mean that there won’t be chargers nearby.

The EV infrastructure grant allows landlords to claim up to £500 per charging bay for up to 60 bays for their tenants. So if you live in a flat and own an EV, it might be worth chatting with your landlord about potentially adding charging points to residential parking spots. 

‍

Where Can You Charge Your EV Without A Driveway?

If you don’t own a home charging point or are unwilling to charge with a cable from a domestic adapter, does that mean you can’t own an EV? Of course not; home charging is the most convenient way to charge your EV, but it isn’t the only charging method.

Many other options are available, some of which provide much faster speeds than a home charging station. 

Public Charging Networks

Public charging stations are very simple to charge at; you simply drive to one and plug your charger in. The fastest chargers can substantially charge your car in minutes, although most will take longer. There are many different chargers all over the country, operated by many different networks.

Networks generally cover regional areas or destinations, meaning some networks provide chargers exclusively for a local area. In contrast, others provide chargers at destinations like supermarkets or service stations.

Public charging stations are usually located where there are things for you to do, like outside gyms, cinemas or restaurants, allowing you to do other things while your car is charging. 

Prices vary at public charging stations but are generally more expensive than at home. Many networks offer subscription models that offer you deals and discounts to help you save money. If there is a network with a conveniently located charger you regularly use, it may be worth paying for a subscription. If you use multiple charging networks and don’t want to pay for a subscription for each one, you should use Bonnet, which lets you connect to 17+ charging networks at a discount.

‍

On-Street Public Charging Points

If you’re looking for a substitute for a home charging point, you might be more interested in on-street networks that provide chargers alongside roads with the permission of local councils. These chargers are often retrofitted into bollards or lampposts and offer a convenient way to charge for people without a home charging point.

Generally, these chargers are pretty slow, so they are best used overnight. There are many different on-street networks in the UK, including:

‍

  • char.gy
  • Charge My Street
  • Connected Kerb
  • Source London.

‍

However, like with most public charging, these are more expensive than home charging points, so if you plan to use them regularly, you should look into a subscription.

Use Bonnet To Find The Nearest Public Charging Point

The best way to access on-street or any public charging is with Bonnet. Bonnet is our app that allows drivers to connect to 17+ charging networks across the UK, including on-street networks like Source London, Connected Kerb and char.gy. 

Bonnet offers membership options that save you up to 15% off all your EV charging at all our partners’ charging points. There are two membership options for drivers, although they can also use the app to connect to all 17+ stations without a membership.

Our first option is called Light Boost. Light Boost is just £2 monthly for 10% off all your charging at our partners’ stations. That’s just £24 annually for potentially hundreds of pounds of savings.

Our second option is named Turbo Boost. Turbo Boost is just £8 monthly for 15% off your charging. Turbo Boost is the ideal option for people without home charging points or a driveway where they can charge, as it allows them to save money on all their favourite networks. 

Are There Any Free Public Charging Networks?

Yes. Some public charging networks won’t cost you anything to charge at. However, there aren’t too many remaining; for example, Tesco used to provide free slow charging in its car parks but no longer does. Many free charging points are in Scotland’s ChargePlace Scotland network, although not all of their chargers are free. 

Tesla Destination has many free charging points across the country, although to use them, you must be a paying customer at the location where they are installed. 

How Long Will It Take To Charge At A Public Charging Station?

Charging time depends on which charging speed you use. There are four main charging speeds: slow (up to 3.6 kWh), fast (7 - 22 kWh), rapid (50 kWh) and ultra-rapid (50 kWh+). 

Generally, most chargers you’ll find in the UK are slow or fast chargers. Fast chargers will take a few hours to charge your car, while slow chargers will take up to a day to fill it up. Rarer rapid or ultra-rapid chargers could fill up your vehicle quickly in under an hour.

Networks offer a variety of charging speeds, although there are some networks that only offer specific speeds. Use Bonnet to check a charger’s speed before using it. 

Can You Leave Your Car At A Public Charger Overnight?

Technically, yes. However, it depends on the network. Rapid networks won’t want you to use their chargers overnight as your EV will be charged quickly, so the car will be dormant and stop other drivers from charging, but slower on-street networks will probably have no issue with charging overnight. However, it is best to check beforehand.  

‍

Charging At A Friend’s Charging Point

If you know an EV driver who has a home charging point, they might let you charge at their home. Charging at a friend’s house isn’t as convenient as charging at home, but it is still a good alternative to it. If you have no friends or family with a charger, you can always ask EV-driving neighbours if you can occasionally use their charging point.

Charging At Your Work

More and more employers are installing charging points in their parking spaces to help reduce their carbon impact and offer their employees easy charging. Workplace charging is a sensible and great way to charge if you have the option. Not all workplaces will have charging points; you might want to chat with your boss if yours doesn’t.

Businesses can apply for grants for charging spaces like landlords can, so installing one might be worth their time. Generally, work chargers are slow and use the universal socket, so you’ll need to bring your own cable to use one.

Charging Vans

Charging vans aren’t an option for most people as there aren’t many services in the country. However, some, like Charge Fairy in London, enable you to charge your car from outside your home. To charge your EV, they fit a charger into their van and simply connect your vehicle to their power source.

Their speeds are slow and relatively expensive, and this service isn’t offered everywhere, but it is a very convenient way of charging your car and a good alternative to home charging.

The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS)

If none of the options outlined above is to your liking, you might be interested in contacting your local council and asking them to install a local charging point. ORCS is a government scheme organised by your local council that sets up charging points in areas to allow people to charge who can’t afford or don’t have a home charging point. 

There might be one in your area already, but if there isn’t, it might be worth your time to ask your local council about one. ORCS charging points are generally installed in discrete locations like lamp posts. To use them, you must bring your own cable.

‍

Should You Buy An EV If You Don’t Own A Driveway?

As this article outlines, you have many charging options if you don’t own a driveway. Public chargers are spread out across the country, so there is surely one near you; with discounts from Bonnet, public charging can be very affordable.

In 2030, there will be a ban on all new conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. In preparation for this date, the UK has become increasingly EV-friendly, and more charging infrastructure has been added to support the increased number of drivers. 

So even if there isn’t a charging option near you right now, there will certainly be one soon. Electric cars are still cost-effective to charge and are great to use, so if you’re on the fence, why not become an early adopter?

Find The Best Public Charging Points With Bonnet

Bonnet is the ideal way to find the best chargers near you and access them at a discount. A diverse range of charging networks work with our app, ensuring all our customers can always find a charger that suits their requirements.

Each charging network generally requires you to download an app before they let you charge at their points. If you charge at many networks, this can build up, and you’ll soon clutter your phone with countless apps just to access a handful of networks. Bonnet lets you connect to 17+ charging networks with just one app.

If you’re interested in finding the best chargers for you, whether you have a home charging point or not, you should download Bonnet today.

‍

FAQs

Can I have an electric car without a driveway?

Yes, you can own an electric car if you don’t have a driveway. You won’t be able to install a home charging point if you don’t have a designated parking spot, but you can still charge your car at work, with on-street chargers and at public charging stations.

How will people without driveways charge electric cars?

There are many ways for people to charge their cars, even if they don’t own a driveway. Your workplace might have chargers you can use, your friends might have a charger they’ll let you use, or a public charging station nearby might suit your needs. 

Can I run my electric charging cable across the pavement?

No legal restrictions stop you from running a charging cable across the pavement. However, the Highway Act allows councils to remove the cables, although councils may or may not do so. Running a cable across the pavement presents a hazard to pedestrians that could have legal implications.

Ready to boost
your charging game?

Let's do this!Let''s do this!