Your questions
Here are some of the questions that we have been asked about electric vehicle charging. If your question is not answered here, you can get in touch with us at evcharging@somerset.gov.uk
Charging safety
Can I trail a charging cable across a pavement to charge an electric vehicle?
Charging your vehicle on the street by trailing a cable across the pavement is not permitted. Electric vehicle charging cables
How do people without driveways charge electric vehicles?
Charging an electric vehicle at home is only possible if you have access to off-street parking. Not all properties have this option, therefore making home charging impossible.
If you are unable to install our own chargepoint, you will need to use a public chargepoint. These can be found in a variety of locations and vary from standard 7kW to ultra-rapid 150kW+ chargepoints, to suit your charging requirements. Public chargepoints are mostly located in council-owned car parks and provided by the private sector at shopping and leisure destinations.
Chargepoint locations
Where are electric vehicle chargepoints located in Somerset?
The best way to find where chargepoints are located is by using ZapMap.
Can I suggest a location for a new chargepoint?
If you know of any locations where you think a new chargepoint would be well used, let us know by completing our ‘suggest a chargepoint location’ form. Your suggested location could be on a residential street, main route, or key destination. Your suggestion could be on a residential street, main route, or key destination. To be considered, the location must be on land owned by the Somerset Council or land adopted by the Highways Authority.
Chargepoint costs
How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle using a public charger?
The cost of charging an electric vehicle using a public chargepoint can vary significantly depending on the type of charger used. The Zapmap Price Index, which is updated monthly, highlights the differences in prices based on chargepoint types and tracks how these prices change over time.
How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle at home?
The cost of charging an electric vehicle using a home chargepoint is cheaper than public charging.
You can use the Zapmap electric vehicle charging calculator to find out how long it takes and how much, or little, it can cost to charge an electric car at home. You can also tailor the results to your home energy costs.
How much does a home chargepoint cost to install?
Prices differ, and you may be eligible for a grant; however, the supply and installation may cost approximately £1,000.
What grants are available for the installation of electric vehicle chargepoints?
The following Government grants are available towards the installation of electric vehicle chargepoints and infrastructure.
- Chargepoint grant for renters and flat owners
- Chargepoint grant for households with on-street parking
- Chargepoint and infrastructure grant for business staff and fleet car parks
- Chargepoint and infrastructure grant for landlords, including car parks
- Workplace Charging Scheme
- Workplace Charging Scheme for state-funded education institutions
You can use the Find a Grant page to search for Government grants.
Permission for chargepoints
Do I need planning permission for a chargepoint?
The planning rules for installing chargepoints will depend on whether the dwelling has off-street parking or on-street parking.
- Off-street parking – you may be able to install a home chargepoint under permitted development rights; this may change if you live in a listed building or a conservation area.
- On-street parking – permitted development rights do not extend to on-street parking. You can request pre-application advice from the Somerset Council planning service. Planning pre-application advice
Why Some EV Chargepoint Suggestions May Not Proceed
- Land Ownership or Permissions
The location must be on land owned by the Somerset Council or land adopted by the Highways Authority. - Demand
Locations should be in areas where multiple properties are without off-street parking and there is the potential for EV usage to justify the cost of investment. - Technical and Safety Issues
Poor pavement and road configurations or safety concerns for vehicles and pedestrians. Proximity of existing electrical infrastructure and streetscapes. - Infrastructure Limitations
There might not be enough electrical capacity, or it could be too expensive to connect the chargepoint to the power grid. - Planning and Regulatory Constraints
The site may be affected by conservation or heritage areas, flood risk zones, or may be subject to planning restrictions. - Proximity to Existing Chargepoints
The location may already be well-served by nearby chargepoints.
Can you get a parking ticket for parking in an electric vehicle-only parking bay?
Enforcement officers can issue parking tickets for any non-electric vehicle parked in an electric vehicle charging bay.