Using Cornwall Council Charge Points
As part of our Drive EV2 programme to install more electrical vehicle charge points in our council carparks, our provider SWARCO are taking over the operation of our existing EV chargers from this May 15 onwards.
If you use our existing council EV charge points or want to use our new fast charge points you just need to register for a SWARCO E.Connect account either by requesting a SWARCO E.Connect RFID card or by downloading the E.Connect app. Just visit https://swarcoeconnect.org/. New council rapid charge points will also accept contactless as payment.
The process to replace the existing charge points and move from Equans/GeniePoint to SWARCO E.Connect will take some time to complete. In the meantime, some existing charge points will continue to operate via the Equans/GeniePoint system. To use these GeniePoint charge points, you will continue to need:
- a GeniePoint charge card or
- to download the GeniePoint app
You can find more information on the Equans/GeniePoint website, including how to register for a GeniePoint account and card. Visit GeniePoint EV Charging
Users will pay to use the charge points. The cost of charging will be set by the supplier and will cover the operation and maintenance throughout the contract.
Car parking charges may apply when charging at Electric Vehicle (EV) bays in Cornwall Council's car parks & on street within pay and display bays. Please refer to car park signage for charges. Vehicles which are parked within EV charging bays and are not using the charge point facilities will be subject to enforcement.
Problems with charging
GeniePoint and SWARCO are responsible for maintaining charge points in good working order. All complaints regarding faults with GeniePoint charge points should be directed to GeniePoint customer services or with SWARCO charge points to their 24hr helpline 020 8515 8444.
Information about home charging
Cornwall Council is not involved in the provision of household charging facilities. Residents can find out more about the Government grants that are available here. They can find information if they:
- are interested in installing their own domestic charging facilities
- have suitable off-street parking
Charging Cables on the Highway
Preference would always be to charge off-street or using a dedicated charging point. Details of all electric vehicle charging points in Cornwall is at Zap-Map (UK). As the Highway Authority, Cornwall Council handles safety for all road users. We will not give permission for installation of private units on the Highway due to the various legal restrictions.
If you choose to charge your electric vehicle whilst parked on the highway, please follow this guidance:
Legal liability for the placement of an electric vehicle charging cable is your responsibility. Please contact your home insurer to confirm that your home insurance policy covers this situation. Any claims arising in the event of incident or injury, or instances of individuals/owners impleaded will be re-directed to you.
Any vehicle parked on the highway must adhere to traffic regulation orders. Charging is not permitted from the highway where a parking restriction is applicable. Any charging equipment must not obstruct the footway or carriageway or any accesses. Residents must not reserve or protect highway space for their vehicle.
You must ensure public safety and comply to legislation when charging your vehicle from your home at all times. You must use a vehicle manufacturer supplied charging cable.
Charging cables must lay flat on the ground. They must never extend from an upper storey to a vehicle. They should not hang from any street furniture, including lamp columns or trees. You must not attach any fixings to the highway.
Charging cables are not permitted to be laid across grass verges under any circumstances.
The placing of a charging cable across the carriageway to reach a vehicle parked on the opposite side of the road is not permitted. The vehicle requiring charging should park as close to the property as possible (within two car lengths).
You should use a charging cable protector on the footway or any area which is likely to be used by the public. It should be provided for the full width of the area between the property and the vehicle. The cable protector should be non-slip. It should have contrasting colour markings e.g. yellow, have anti-trip sloped sides. It should be of a tough construction suitable for outdoor use and must not impede disabled users.
A cable and protector should only be in place when the vehicle is charging. You should always remove when not in use. This applies when a cable is on a highway or any area that is likely to be used by the public.
Although no licence is currently required, it is in development. Where a location is deemed unsuitable then Cornwall Council has powers under Section 162 of the Highways Act to seek to have the cable removed. This will be removed without notice under common law if considered to be immediately hazardous.