Cross-pavement comparison · Updated 8 May 2026
Kerbo Charge vs Gul-e — UK Cross-Pavement Channels Compared
Both Gul-e (~£499 fitted) and Kerbo Charge (~£999 fitted) are OZEV-grant-eligible cross-pavement channels for households with on-street parking. The £500 price gap is real but justified in some installations and overkill in others. This guide explains exactly when each is right.
£499Gul-e fitted price (excl. VAT)
£999Kerbo Charge fitted price (incl. VAT)
£500OZEV grant for either
+£0–£500Premium for Kerbo over Gul-e
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Gul-e | Kerbo Charge |
|---|---|---|
| Headline fitted price | £499 + VAT | £999 inc. VAT |
| Net cost after £500 OZEV grant | ~£100–150 | ~£500 |
| Council application included | Sometimes | Yes (always) |
| Channel design | Brush-seal recess with chequerboard plates | Self-closing thermoplastic, flush with pavement |
| Pedestrian trip-hazard rating | Approved (lid system) | Approved (flush) |
| Conservation area acceptance | Limited (some councils refuse on aesthetic grounds) | Strong (flush finish satisfies most heritage objections) |
| Installation time | Half-day | Half-day |
| Maintenance | Brush replacement every 2–3 years (~£50) | Mostly maintenance-free; lid mechanism guaranteed 10 years |
| Cable diameter compatibility | Up to 11 mm | Up to 13 mm |
| Council approvals (UK boroughs) | ~80 councils approve as of May 2026 | ~110 councils approve as of May 2026 |
| Warranty | 2 years | 10 years (lid + body), lifetime structural |
When to pick Gul-e
Gul-e is the right choice in straightforward residential streets where the lower cost wins out and there's no aesthetic constraint:
- Standard residential streets outside conservation zones — most of suburban UK
- Council has standardised on Gul-e (e.g., parts of Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Bristol)
- You're cost-sensitive — £100–£150 net out-of-pocket is the cheapest path to home charging if you have on-street parking
- Tenure is short — if you might move within 2–3 years, the lower cost makes more sense than a 10-year warranty product
When to pick Kerbo Charge
Kerbo Charge justifies its £500 premium in three specific situations:
- Conservation area or listed building proximity — Camden, Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea, Bath, Edinburgh New Town, parts of Brighton, etc. Conservation officers consistently approve Kerbo's flush finish where they refuse Gul-e's brush-seal recess.
- Council-mandated supplier — Wandsworth, Camden, Brighton & Hove, parts of Westminster have standardised on Kerbo. No choice — it's Kerbo or no cross-pavement.
- Long-term ownership — if you'll own the property 10+ years, Kerbo's longer warranty and lower-maintenance design pays back via avoided £50 brush replacements every 2–3 years (Gul-e ongoing cost over 10 years: ~£150–£200).
How to find out which your council approves
- Search "[your council name] cross-pavement EV charging" — most councils now have a dedicated page
- Or check our city guides: London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh
- Or contact the supplier directly — both Kerbo Charge and Gul-e maintain live council-approval lists and will quote only if your council is on theirs