On-street charging is EV charging installed in public streetscapes—typically along kerbsides, sidewalks, or curbside parking bays—so drivers can charge where vehicles are parked on public roads. It is a key solution for residents and visitors in dense urban areas who lack off-street parking or home charging access.
Where on-street charging is deployed
Common on-street charging formats include:
– Kerbside pedestals serving one or two parking bays
– Lamp-post chargers integrated into street lighting infrastructure
– Wall-mounted curbside units on building edges or street furniture
– Power cabinets feeding multiple curbside charge points
– Pop-up or retractable chargers (in some pilot deployments)
Why on-street charging matters
– Enables EV adoption for apartment residents without private parking
– Supports mobility equity by expanding access beyond homeowners
– Provides convenient overnight and destination-style charging in cities
– Can reduce reliance on DC fast charging for daily needs
– Helps municipalities meet national charging roadmap and local climate targets
Typical power levels and charging behavior
On-street charging is usually AC charging aligned with long dwell times:
– Typical power: 3.7 kW to 22 kW depending on site supply and parking turnover
– Most suitable for overnight residential charging or daytime destination parking
– DC on-street is possible but less common due to footprint, grid demand, and cost
Infrastructure and design considerations
On-street charging requires careful integration with urban constraints:
– Site supply assessment: feeder capacity, voltage drop, available connection points
– Civil works: ducting, foundations, reinstatement, drainage considerations
– Street safety: accessibility routes, cable management, trip hazards, bollards
– Durability: IP ratings and IK impact resistance, vandalism protection
– Lighting and CCTV coverage for user confidence
– Parking bay marking, signage, and enforcement to prevent ICEing
Operations, access, and payments
On-street sites often serve diverse users, so access must be simple:
– App or RFID authentication for regular users
– Ad-hoc payment options (QR, web payment, contactless terminals where required)
– Roaming support via OCPI to enable multi-network access
– Clear pricing display and policies (time limits, idle fees, overnight rules)
Key challenges
– Limited grid capacity and long connection lead times in dense areas
– Permitting complexity and coordination with road authorities
– Risk of vandalism, vehicle impact, and harsh environmental exposure
– Connectivity challenges in street cabinets (LTE coverage, antenna placement)
– Parking enforcement and public acceptance issues if poorly communicated
– Maintenance access planning to avoid repeated street disruptions
Best practices
– Use standardized street hardware designs and modular civil templates
– Deploy in phases guided by utilization and residential demand mapping
– Combine with load management to stay within feeder constraints
– Coordinate with city parking policy and enforcement from day one
– Provide strong monitoring and fault response to protect uptime
Related glossary terms
Curbside charging
Lamp-post chargers
Kerbside power cabinets
Public accessibility charging
EV-ready parking
Load management
Ad-hoc payment
OCPI
Roaming
Mobility equity