Ownership of electric vehicles (EVs) is becoming more popular in Merri-bek. EVs are getting cheaper and they are one way to lowering carbon pollution.
A barrier to EV ownership is not having off-street parking, which allows you to charge at home.
Public chargers are available, but these are less convenient and more expensive than charging at home, especially if you have solar panels.
On Street EV Charging trial
Council has launched a trial to permit 20 residents to install equipment on their property that allows them to run a charging cable overhead to their EV parked on the street.
The equipment is a vertical pole installed in the garden, with a retractable boom 2.5 metres above ground.
If you park in the appropriate bay, you can deploy the boom over the footpath.
The charging cable runs up the pole, across the boom and down to plug into the EV. This keeps the footpath free from trip hazards.
Be part of the trial
To learn more, give feedback or apply to participate in the trial, visit Conversations Merri-bek.
Trial participants can live anywhere in Merri-bek, but one of the restrictions is that they must not have off-street parking.
If the trial is a success, Council will examine how we might expand the scheme.
