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Householders in Wales occupying homes without driveways could soon be able to charge their electric vehicles quickly and conveniently at home thanks to Charge Gully and their innovative vision for an easier EV future.
As electric vehicles become more common, millions of people, particularly those living in terraced houses, find themselves faced with impractical and expensive charging options. Charge Gully’s mission is to change this by making home charging accessible, affordable, and convenient for all.
According to the 2021 Census, Wales has the highest proportion of terraced houses in Great Britain with 27% of its housing stock being terraced (23% in England and 19% in Scotland). As a result, these residents who typically lack space for a driveway often face the high costs and inconvenience of relying on public charging networks.
Research by Zapmap indicates that EV drivers who are unable to charge from home are spending over £1,000 more each year than those with access to home chargers – sometimes even nullifying the economic incentive of opting for an EV over traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.
Charge Gully’s solution is simple yet ingenious: a patented cable channel that enables residents to safely run a charging cable from their homes to their vehicles without creating a trip hazard on public pavements. The cable channel sits flush with the pavement and self-closes when not in use, providing a secure and tamper-proof charging option for overnight use.
“Being a Welsh company, we are eager to deploy our technology in Wales to help the many residents living in terraced houses, and other houses without driveways, charge their electric cars cheaply and conveniently from home.” said Ian Mach, Director of Charge Gully.
“Our solution removes one of the major barriers to EV adoption for a significant proportion of the population, and we’re excited to play a part in supporting the transition to cleaner transport across the UK.”
Since its inception last year, Charge Gully has attracted major attention. It has received two government grants and secured a place in two Innovate UK programmes. In March 2024, the Department for Transport launched a grant scheme, allowing UK residents to claim up to £350 off the cost of installing a home EV charger if they also fit a cross-pavement solution, such as Charge Gully’s cable channel. This grant will expire in March 2025, making Charge Gully’s product even more timely.
Charge Gully is set to install more than 80 units across England and Scotland as part of an upcoming large-scale trial, with plans to introduce their first trials in Wales soon.
