The Kerbo Charge system allows EV drivers with street parking to charge their car using their home supply but will cost Enfield residents over £1,350 in the first year, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Drivers have criticised Enfield Council’s new electric vehicle (EV) charging scheme – calling the cost to take part “extortionate”.

It comes after the council last month rolled-out a new EV charging pilot project, in collaboration with Kerbo Charge, and claimed it was a cheaper alternative to public EV chargers.

The Kerbo Charge system allows residents with street parking to charge their car using their home supply, creating a ‘charging gully’ on the pavement to hold the electric cable and carry it to their car.

However, local drivers used social media to criticise the announcement and highlighted that the cost of a licence fee, in the first year, was £1,251. From the second year and onwards, the licence fee falls to £93.

There is also a £108 fee to apply to take part in the scheme.

Daniel Anderson, a former Labour deputy leader of Enfield Council, claimed the local authority’s EV charging scheme ran contrary to its policy on controlled parking zones (CPZ).

Enfield has implemented several CPZs over the last few years and is currently consulting on two more, in Palmers Green and Arnos Grove.

Daniel said: “This new EV charging system is contradictory to the policy the council is pursuing with cars as a whole; there’s no distinction between electric or petrol in a CPZ, it will just restrict all cars.”

He added that the price to take part in the scheme was “extortionate” and questioned how the council would manage the project long-term.

“It’s £93 per year but if someone chooses to stop paying will the council take the channel out of the pavement? It’s ridiculous.”

Ann Jones, a resident who lives in the Fox Lane low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN), said she supported EV charging schemes in general but pointed out that residents may struggle to stop petrol or diesel vehicles parking in the spaces meant for EVs.

“You would have to agree with your neighbours that they won’t park in your spot,” she said.

Ann also said she’d observed this issue on another EV charging scheme which involved lamp column chargers using existing street lights. Enfield Council began to roll these out across the borough, with a priority for LTN areas, in 2021.

But Ann said usage of these had been “low” because petrol cars were “parking up beside these lamp post chargers and EV cars couldn’t”.

Enfield Council was approached for comment but has yet to respond.

Last month, in a press release, it was claimed the Kerbo Charge system would be between five and ten times cheaper than using public chargers. Enfield is the first London local authority to trial the innovative technology after successful rollouts in several towns and cities across the UK.

Update (10th September):

An Enfield Council spokesperson said: “The council has a commitment to install 1,000 EV charge points by March 2026. The installation of standard, fast and rapid chargers will be rolled out in the coming months. Supporting the shift to EVs is a key part of the council’s Climate Action Plan, enabling the transition to low carbon travel.

“In addition to conventional public charge points, the council is trialling the provision of footway channels to give residents without off-street parking the option of charging their vehicles safely eliminating trip hazards across the footway to use using their domestic energy supply at a much cheaper rate compared to public charge points.

“Whilst there are upfront costs associated with the installation of the channel and obtaining the necessary licence, residents who choose to make use of this option will get a return on their investment relatively quickly, depending on the mileage covered.

“It is hoped this option will encourage more residents to switch from petrol and diesel vehicles to EVs. At this stage, a dedicated bay for the exclusive use of a resident with a footway channel is not being provided. In reality, vehicles only need to be on-charge for part of the time and, with limited kerbside space available, the council still has to consider the needs of residents yet to convert to EVs.”

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