Electric Vehicles

Electric Vehicle Charging

Accessing charging for electric vehicles

We are committed to reducing carbon emissions and supporting residents, businesses, and visitors to use electric vehicles (EVs). We recognise that access to EV charging is needed and lack of access to on-street EV charging may be inconvenient for some drivers. 

We are working to increase public access to EV chargers in Redcar & Cleveland and develop safe ways for drivers to access on-street charging. 

You can find your nearest public EV charger by viewing our map of EV chargers in the borough.  

Some charge points are operated by Zapcharged and some are operated by Electric Blue.  You can pay for charging using the charge point operator’s app. Apps can be downloaded from App Store and Play Store.  Electric Blue charging points also offer contactless payment.

You can suggest a location for public EV chargers by emailing GreenerFuture@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk.

On-street electric vehicle charging

Please note this information is not legal advice. You should get independent legal advice if you need it. 

There are no laws clearly covering on-street electric vehicle charging. If you place a cable across the pavement or road, you may put other road users at risk, which is an offence under highway laws. The highway includes roads and pavements. 

We advise EV users without their own off-street charging to use public charging facilities to charge their EVs safely. We do not advise trailing cables across the highway, including the pavement, even where some kind of protective cover is used. You should never block the highway to charge EVs on-street as this may make it difficult for emergency services and others to get around. 

If you charge EVs on-street, you risk committing an offence.  

Individual responsibilities under highways law

Do not block the highway. A vehicle must not block the highway or cause an obstruction to other highway users, including emergency vehicles and refuse vehicles.

When an EV is being charged, the vehicle owner is responsible for making sure any cables crossing a public space or highway are not a risk to other highway users, including pedestrians. When an EV is charging it is likely to be classed as ‘in use’ and if someone suffers damage or injury because a charging EV, or its charging cable is placed dangerously, an insurance claim may be raised by the injured party, against the vehicle owner and their insurer.