Paul Holdsworth, Engineer

31 Jan : Updated 10 Apr ● 5 min read

Can I have an electric car without a driveway?

As the UK government moves ahead with plans to stop the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2035, many consumers are looking at alternative vehicle options available to them.

The infrastructure to support electric vehicle users is improving, with many public charging points being added around the UK. New rules have also been implemented that mean new build homes in England must have EV charge points installed as well.

But what about people that don't have the luxury of a driveway or off-street parking? Many UK homeowners or renters don't have the option to install charging points and might see a petrol or diesel car as an easier option.

This article will take you through what options are available for people that don't have a driveway but are still interested in the possibilities of electric vehicles.

Is an Electric Car a Sensible Option if You Don't Have a Driveway or Off-Street Parking Facilities?

If you have a home without a driveway, there is no need to write off electric cars as not being a good option. People with driveways aren't equipped with petrol stations, yet a petrol or diesel car is still accepted as the norm, and electric vehicles should be thought of in the same way.

With the development of EV charging infrastructure improvements in the UK every year, it makes it easier for people to charge vehicles as and when it is needed.

With electric vehicles averaging between 100 and 300 miles on a full charge, adjusting habits and taking advantage of electric car charging facilities near your home or work make owning an electric car without off-street parking a perfectly sensible decision.

What Alternatives Are There to Having a Home Charger for Electric Cars?

Anyone considering getting an electric car will probably want to research how it differs from a traditional petrol or diesel car, and finding out more about EV charging facilities will be a part of that.

The following electric car charging options should help people who couldn't take advantage of the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme or EV Chargepoint Grant to lower the cost of home installation.

Destination charging

Destination charging is an excellent option for EV owners that can take advantage of charging stations at shops, restaurants, hotels, and public car parks. Designated parking for electric vehicles that gives them easy access to the charge point makes it a convenient charging option.

Businesses are starting to recognise the benefit of including these on-site facilities to draw customers in. Some destination electric vehicle charging points might have different terms and conditions, such as how long you can park there or whether an in-store purchase is necessary to use the facilities. These details will be advertised on the charge point.

On-street charging

On-street charging is not as common in residential areas as it is in city centres. However, government grants that can provide local authorities with as much as 60% of the funding needed to install on-street charging points are available.

£20m has been allocated for 2022 and 2023 for local authorities to take advantage of the scheme. Though it is primarily earmarked for on-street charging, applications for car parks will be considered in certain circumstances.

The On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme guidance for local authorities is an excellent option that should see a rise in charging facilities across the UK for people that don't have off-street parking.

Workplace charging

It is not just local authorities being encouraged to explore EV charge point installation. Workplaces can also benefit from the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS), which can help to reduce the upfront costs of installation.

EV chargers at workplaces across the UK can be an excellent addition for workers that commute in electric cars. If you cannot charge the car at home, charging while at work is a convenient alternative.

Ultra-rapid charging hubs

Rapid charge points are an excellent charging option for EV owners with compatible vehicles. In some cases, this can allow their vehicles to be fully charged in just 20 to 30 minutes.

This tends to be more expensive than regular charging stations, but it does mean much less waiting. They are not as common an option at present. However, some supermarket installations are proving to be popular among people who can charge their cars and do their shopping without wasting time.

Public charging network

The public charging network covers all charging facilities that are not on private property. Home charging points and workplace installation can be incredibly convenient, but not everyone will be able to use them.

Most public charging points in the UK offer fast charging, and as of May 2022, there were 32,312 public charge points across 19,945 locations in the UK.

This incredible figure is rising every month and doesn't even take into consideration the extensive number of home or workplace charging points in the UK.

Of the 32,312 public EV chargers in the UK in May 2022, 5860 were rapid chargers. These figures were collated by Zap-Map, an excellent facility that provides the location of all charging points in the UK.

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FAQs

The cost of charging a vehicle on a public network will differ depending on the charge point, location, and amount of energy consumed. Rapid electric car charge points are more expensive, so it's advised to only use them if charging your car quickly is necessary.

Some charge point providers offer subscription-based services that can help to reduce costs. This is a useful option if you have looked at convenient charge points close to home, work, or where you shop, and the provider has a number of facilities that you can use.

To give you a general idea of costs, you might pay around £15 to fully charge your electric vehicle at home if you are lucky enough to have a driveway. Using rapid public chargers to charge an electric vehicle to around 80% can cost between £7 and £10.

These figures will differ depending on providers' rates and home electricity tariff prices. Still, it is clear to see that it can be considerably more to charge using public rapid charging facilities.

The length of time it takes to charge a car will depend on the vehicle's engine size and the type of charger you use.

Slow chargers will deliver between 3kW to 6kW and can deliver a full charge in between 8 and 12 hours. Topping up your charge takes considerably less time. However, slow chargers like this are better for when you can leave a car for a considerable time to charge, like at work or home.

Fast chargers typically offer from 7kW to 22kW and can take anywhere from 1 to 11 hours to fully charge a car, depending on the output and battery size.

Fast chargers are the most common charger type with home installations and at public charge points. Anyone looking to find an EV charger at this level will love the service we provide at BOXT.

All the chargers we provide for installation offer a minimum 7.2kW output, are compatible with type 2 EVs and are all smart chargers meaning you will be able to monitor and adjust your usage using a convenient app.

Rapid charging points can offer a full charge that takes as little as 20 minutes, but you will have to pay more for this convenience.

While home charging point installation offers peace of mind and convenience for electric car owners, rising energy costs might leave people looking for ways to reduce their bills.

One way to do that is by taking advantage of the excellent smart chargers at BOXT that help monitor your usage and ensure your energy use doesn't cost more than it has to.

There are free charging stations and pod points across the UK located at businesses, on residential streets, in town centres, in public car parks, and at destinations like shopping malls or motorway service stations. However, not all charging stations are free, so it’s best to check ahead if you can.

Final Thoughts

In a perfect world, every home would be eligible for a home charger, and unfortunately, that is not always possible. Even properties with an allocated parking space might not be suitable for charge point installation.

Thankfully there are lots of options available for anyone considering an electric car. The amount and quality of public charge points are also improving, making electric cars viable options for people that don't have driveways.