The trial will now extend to accommodate up to 100 electric vehicle users in the city.

The system works as follows: residents insert their charging cable into the pavement channel, and the specially designed lid closes behind it like a zip, preventing hazardous cables from crossing footpaths. This practical solution has encouraged many to switch from petrol and diesel cars to electric, contributing to CO2 emissions reduction.

David Peake, a participant in the initial trial, described the technology as ‘transformational.’ Before the trial, he either trailed a cable over the pavement or drove to a nearby charge point. Now, he and other participants benefit from a specially designed polymer channel with a self-closing lid installed outside their homes, which they can activate using an app.

David said: “The Kerbo Charge installation has been transformational for me because I can now safely charge my car at home and drive in electric mode every day, saving around 80 litres of petrol every week and slashing my emissions. Hats off to Milton Keynes City Council for leading the way with this new technology.”

Recent data from Zap Map shows that on average, a resident who can charge their car at home spends £680 annually, compared to £1,820 for those using public chargers. This disparity is particularly evident for the 40% of UK households without driveways, where the expense of public charging turns many people away from owning an electric car.

The founders of Kerbo Charge pitched the product on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den show in February and received investment from sustainability champion Deborah Meaden. Deborah said: “I backed Kerbo Charge because I saw a big problem around EV charging that needed to be solved, and I like the clever self-closing design of their product. This has been a comprehensive trial, running for over a year, and so I think this is a great opportunity for other local authorities to take the learnings from Milton Keynes City Council about how to roll these out.”

 Cabinet Member for Public Realm, Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew said: “We have a proud history of supporting innovation and encouraging electric vehicle uptake here in Milton Keynes. We have one of the best public charging networks in the country but want to do more to help our residents. This extended trial enables our residents to home charge when they do not have a driveway, giving them the confidence to switch to a low-emission lifestyle which helps us meet our sustainability targets.”

Kerbo Charge Co-Founder Michael Goulden said: “Our aim is to make it affordable for residents without driveways to move to electric. We’re delighted that Milton Keynes City Council is making home charging accessible to residents with street parking across the city. Milton Keynes is known as one of the most innovative councils in the UK and they’ve certainly lived up to that reputation here.”