Electric vehicle charge points

Finding an electric vehicle charge point

We have installed over 100 EV charge points across the borough.

You will also find private charging points located in private car parks (such as supermarkets/retail parks) and garages.

Check the location and availability of all existing charge points with Zap Map.

We will be installing more EV charge points in the near future. Find out more about our plans to facilitate electric vehicle use.

How to use the charge points

You can subscribe to a particular EV provider or use the pay-as-you-go option which does not require registration before usage. Pay as you go is more flexible than a subscription but tends to cost more per kilowatt-hour.

Types of charge points available

There are three types of charge points available in the borough:

Rapid-charge devices (50KW)

These chargers are available on ‘red routes’ maintained by Transport for London and in a number of council car parks near town centres. They are too large to be placed in more residential streets.

Standard (7KW) charge points

These chargers can be found on residential streets around the borough and also in many council car parks. These are dedicated EV bays that can be used for charging purposes only.

5KW lamp column chargers

These chargers are found predominantly in residential settings and are installed on bollards next to a lamp post. Please note that if the bay is in a controlled parking zone (CPZ), and is not marked as being a dedicated EV bay, you must have a valid residents’ CPZ parking permit to use the charger during the operating hours of the CPZ. 

Cross-pavement mechanisms

What are cross-pavement mechanisms?

Cross-pavement mechanisms are channels installed into the pavement designed to hold cables for charging electric vehicles. 

Our stance on cross-pavement charging cable mechanisms

At present, our stance is that cross-pavement electric vehicle charging cable mechanisms will not be permitted. 

The primary concern is the safety, ownership and liability implications for both pedestrians and users of cross-pavement mechanisms. A cross-pavement mechanism can still pose a significant trip hazard and electric risk to pavement users. Consequently, you and/or the Council may be held liable for any incidents or injuries that occur if you use a cross-pavement mechanism.

We are currently monitoring pilots in other boroughs, and we are trying to ensure that long-term impacts are considered, not just short-term. The Council is open to working with the industry to see what different solutions are available. We have a duty to ensure that the Public Highway remains safe and accessible for all pavement users. We are aware of the frustrations posed by this decision, but our priority regarding infrastructure is to expand so that all members of the public can charge their vehicles in residential areas.

Cross-pavement mechanism trial

Following the Mayor and Cabinet committee’s approval for the cross-pavement mechanism trial, our officers are working to put together a programme for the project. 

The trial will be conducted boroughwide to ensure we are capturing local risks within Lewisham and using evidence based on our local area to make decisions on cross-pavement mechanisms and the Council’s stance towards this. Residents who are interested in taking part in the trial can submit their details to the Sustainable Streets team via email at Sustainable.Streets@lewisham.gov.uk. Please include your name, full address and if you are a current electric vehicle owner. 

Residents will be selected at random to take part and those selected will be contacted once a timeline and further information is available. 

Until a trial has been completed and findings analysed, our stance remains that we do not permit the use of any cross-pavement mechanism.