How can I charge an EV if I live in a flat (or other home without a driveway)?

Around a third of UK homeowners don’t have access to off-street parking. The percentage of renters with no driveway access is likely to be significantly higher.

So much of the discussion around EVs focuses on the convenience and cost savings of charging at home. That’s great if you have a driveway, but it often leaves those without assuming that an EV probably isn’t for them. 

Is this really the case?

Or perhaps more specifically, if getting an EV without a driveway is possible, is it a logistical nightmare?

The short answer: unless you’re putting in some serious miles, it might actually be a lot easier than you think! It’s possibly not for everyone, but there are several charging options outside of a wall-box charger that could work really well. 

This guide will help you figure out whether an EV is right for you by: 

• Explaining what your options are, whether you own your home or rent it
• Giving you a few real-life examples of what EV charging looks like without a driveway
• Helping you work out whether these would work for your situation

If you are weighing this up more broadly, it might be worth checking out the bigger picture: Can you run an EV without a driveway?

Does your home have access to a parking garage or other residential parking area? If so, things are relatively simple. 

First things first: check whether your parking area has chargers installed already. If so, you’re sorted - park, charge, and go. 

If not, you may be eligible for the OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant, available to people who live in flats who’d like to install an EV charger in their residential parking area. The current scheme runs until 2027, and can subsidise up to 75% of installation costs to £500 (as of April 2026). 

If your flat does not have access to a residential parking area, you will struggle to get the same level of park-and-charge convenience.

At the same time, charging an EV without one is still very achievable. 

Think about it this way: you would need to plan fuel refills for a petrol or diesel car - but you wouldn’t go out on a trip specifically to fuel your car. It’s an errand that you’d complete with other errands (the weekly big shop for example), or whilst you were driving from A to B. 

“For me, charging at the gym is a great way to force me to actually go to the gym!” - Ellie, Data Analyst at Octopus Electric Vehicles

The same goes with EVs. Here’s what charging an EV really looks like for people who can’t charge at home: 

• Charging your car whilst doing the shopping, going to the gym, or running errands - some supermarkets and retail parks even offer small periods of free charging
• Planning a charging stop as a break during longer journeys - you need a quick coffee anyway, might as well fit in charge at the same time
• Using community charging apps to rent space on someone’s driveway, and charge as if it was your own
• Share a charger with a friend or family member - pop in and charge whilst they’re not using it, then pay them for the electricity you use (and maybe get them something nice every now and then as a thank-you)
• Looking for residential ‘lamppost’ chargers in your neighbourhood - this has been a significant area of investment for recent charger installation initiatives
• Charging your EV at work - plug in, and drive home fully charged at the end of the day

(If your workplace does not have chargers already, make sure management is aware that there are grants to support installation via the Workplace Charging Scheme!)

You’re not limited to one place either - most drivers use a mix of locations depending on their routine.

“I live in a flat in South London and covered about 35,000 miles last year in my EV - all on the public network. Honestly, it’s the easiest thing in the world. I’ll just grab a 15 minute charge on the way home to stretch my legs, catch up on work emails, or watch a bit of a show, and I’m good to go” - Ally, Marketing Engagement Executive at Octopus Electric Vehicles

This is a common experience. Once you’ve done it a few times, it quickly becomes routine.

Ultimately, it will come down to how far you need to drive every week. 

If you’re travelling a lot (let’s say 350+ miles per week), charging at home is more convenient, and frequently charging elsewhere may feel like a drag. 

But how far do you drive? 

Many people overestimate their weekly mileage (we get it, those Monday commutes do feel pretty long). The average EV driver, however, covers less than 200 miles in a week. 

Given that the average real-world range of an EV is now 237 miles, many drivers will be able to go a week or more without having to charge. This makes a weekly top up whilst you do the big shop seem all the more convenient as a way of charging.

“Sunday lunch with the family - charger in the car park - we get a full charge within the hour and set for the week. I also love a petrol station charge - pop in and get the yellow label discounts in the evening whilst it’s charging!” - Emily, Sales Team Manager at Octopus Electric Vehicles

Take a minute to calculate how far you drive in an average week, to see whether it’s viable for you!

And when you look at how often you actually need to charge, the costs can be lower than many people expect.

If you’re renting a home with no driveway, EV charging might seem like it’s going to be an uphill struggle. 

It doesn’t have to be. 

Not only are there a variety of public charging options available (charging whilst out on errands, on longer journeys, at work, community charging schemes) – both renters and landlords are eligible for the OZEV EV Chargepoint Grant. 

So, if your landlord is uncertain about the costs of EV chargepoint installation, you can direct them towards the grant. And if they’re still uncertain, you can cover up to 75% of the cost yourself - but do make sure you have your landlord’s permission, in any event. 

EVs are for everyone - not just people with off street parking. 

Intelligent EV is a personal leasing scheme that offers everything you need to drive electric - a selection of the latest cars, dedicated customer support, and servicing/maintenance packages included in the lease. 

With No Driveway No Problem, you can get 50% off kerbside charging when using Ubitricity or Connected Kerb chargers or, either £800 or £400 Electroverse charging credit, depending on whether you take out a new or approved used car lease. See how No Driveway No Problem could work for you.

We also offer 10% off public charging via our Electroverse app. You don’t have to have a driveway to save money on charging!