Bradford Installs 'Zip-Up' EV Chargers for Terraced Streets

Bradford is making electric vehicles accessible to people who never thought they could own one.

The city council has installed clever charging channels across terraced streets, solving a major problem for homeowners without driveways. The channels let residents run cables from their homes to parked cars by sealing them in a gully beneath the pavement with a self-closing lid.

Lisa and Peter Newsome, both disabled, received one of the first installations. "We rely on carers to help us get around," Mrs. Newsome explained. "Being able to charge our car outside our home means we don't have to spend hours waiting at slow public chargers, so our carers can focus on helping us with other things."

The difference in cost is dramatic. A full overnight charge at home can cost less than £5, compared with around £30 at public charging stations.

Aaron Foulds from Keighley drives electric partly because he suffers from asthma. "Driving an electric vehicle helps reduce exhaust fumes," he said. Before his charging channel, he paid more than equivalent fuel costs just to travel to public chargers.

The Ripple Effect

This innovation addresses a critical barrier to EV adoption in urban areas. Yorkshire and the Humber currently has the worst ratio of charging points per 100,000 residents on the UK mainland, and prohibitive public charging costs have slowed electric vehicle uptake nationwide.

The £2.87 million government-funded pilot prioritizes homes with reserved parking spaces like disabled bays first, then expands district-wide. Bradford Council owns and maintains the channels while residents keep them clean.

The council has committed to installing 1,000 new charging points across 230 locations by 2027. Residents can check eligibility and apply through the council's website.

Affordable home charging isn't just about convenience—it's opening the door to cleaner air for everyone.