Plans to roll out what is believed to be the UK’s largest installation programme for electric vehicle (EV) cable channels have taken a major step forward, with Oxfordshire County Council awarding ODS the contract to install up to 500 Gul-e cross-pavement charging units.
The innovative system, designed for residents without driveways, allows EV owners to safely run a charging cable from their home to their vehicle at the kerbside without creating a trip hazard. The units will be installed across residential streets throughout Oxfordshire.
Councillor Ben Higgins, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Future Economy and Innovation, said the milestone marks a significant phase in a wider £4.3 million government-backed project aimed at expanding the county’s EV charging network.
He noted that with a third of Oxfordshire households lacking off-street parking, the technology could be a “game changer” that gives residents the confidence to switch to EVs.
Simon Howick, Managing Director of ODS, described the contract win as a major endorsement of Gul-e’s potential. “Securing the UK’s largest cross-pavement charging tender proves the viability and scalability of the technology and its role in helping decarbonise local transport networks,” he said.
Applications from residents opened in July and remain available through the council’s website. Each site is assessed for safety and suitability before being approved for installation. Once a location is confirmed, the council will mark it for a Gul-e unit, and residents will then install a compliant home charger.
The scheme builds on the success of an earlier 2022 trial, with Summertown resident Guy Hargreaves praising the system as faultless and highly convenient for EV owners with on-street parking.
Supported by a £700,000 government grant, the project will reduce installation costs for participants. ODS will complete all installations, conduct regular inspections, and provide ongoing maintenance.
Serving as a national model for other local authorities, the programme demonstrates how innovative, cost-effective solutions can support EV adoption for households without driveways.
The Gul-e initiative is part of a broader county programme to install at least 1,200 public EV chargers by 2027, funded through the government’s local EV infrastructure scheme.
