In short this petition aims to show that council that it should not be holding back EV ownership (and also the route to net zero) and should not be putting the people of Swansea at a financial and social disadvantage and therefore should prioritise allowing home charging for those with on-road parking.    

 

You can watch my YouTube video on this topic using this link:  https://youtu.be/RB6Kai-xqbQ

 

The UK Government is banning the sales of petrol and diesel cars in 2030 therefore electric vehicles (EVs) are become more popular and are the way forward.  Not only are they more environmentally friendly but can be cheaper to run.

One of the major issues of EV ownership is charging.  It is widely agree (including in the Welsh Government EV road map) that home charging is the best solution as it cheaper for the EV owner, more convenient for the owner, requires no investments from councils or changing of infrastructure and can put less pressure on the grid.  Other benefits of having a home EV charger include adding it to CO-Charge which effectively makes it a public charger and the owner can generate income for themselves.

However, the Highways Act 1980 prohibits the running over cables across highways including pavements (trip hazard).  This means that those without off-road parking (i.e driveway or garage) can not home charge.  Its is estimated that 33% of people nationwide do not have off road parking and that percentage raises to 66% in city areas.  This has also turned into a discriminatory policy as those on lower incomes tend to live in houses without drives or suitable garages. 

There are, however, a number of simple and relatively cheap solutions that are in use by other councils around the UK.  Hampshire County Council allow residence to use a simple cable protector (see this link).  Oxford Council and Milton Keynes Council are using Gul-e and Kerbo (small channels cut into the pavement in which the charge cable can be place with a closing mechanism over the top).  The UK distributors of Charge Arm (a device that suspends the charge cable, when in use, at a height of 2.5m above the pavement) are in discussion with numerous councils around the UK.

 

Unfortunately Swansea Council and its leader Rob Stewart are not willing to engage or even consider with these concepts.  Any attempted communication with council is often ignored or replied to with poor scripted stock answers that do not address the original quire.  The council also hides behind an excuse of that it putting together 5 year plan on public charge.  Although public charging infrastructure is important, it should not effect the councils policy on home charging, which as stated earlier is considered the best solution.  Further to this the council has not been in contact with any of the firms mentions above even though meetings and discussions have been made suggested by the firms. 

 

Example of the cost and savings if home charging was allowed

These calculations based on current prices showing how disadvantaged those on can not charge at home are. It is assumed the EV will average 3.5 miles per kWh and 28kWh of charge will be added which is 98 miles

Scenario 1.  Home Charging using Octopus Go tariff (4 hours between midnight and 4am at 7.5p per kWh) using a 7kW charger

Charge time 4 hours.   Cost: £2.10  price per mile: 2.1p

 

Scenario 2.  Home Charging using government price cap tariff (35p per kWh) using a 7kW charge

Charge time 4 hours.   Cost: £9.80  price per mile: 10p

 

Scenario 3.  Public Charging using using a Swansea Councils Clenerg  7kW chargers in public car park (price of parking not included), current price £1 per kwh

Charge time 4 hours (away from home).   Cost: £28.00  price per mile: 29p

 

Scenario 4.  Public Rapid Charging  50-100kW chargers current price £0.66 per kwh

Charge time 20-35 minutes.   Cost: £18.48  price per mile: 19p

 

Scenario 5.  Diesel Car averaging 50 miles per gallon, price per lite £1.84 

Time to fill 2 minutes.   Cost: £17.46  price per mile: 18p

 

As you can see that over 10,000 mile year, home charging could cost as little as £200 compared to £2900 if using the public chargers provided by Swansea Council.