Can you run an electric car without a driveway? (And is it still cheaper than petrol?)
Apr 1, 2026
3 min read
Yes - you can run an electric car without a driveway. Many drivers use on-street chargers such as kerbside or lamppost charging, or top up at public locations like supermarkets and car parks. With growing infrastructure and discounted charging options, it is now practical and can still be cheaper than petrol.
Can you run an electric car without a driveway - and does it actually work day to day?
For a long time, this was a real barrier.
Now, for most drivers, it's become no driveway, no problem.
Why this used to be a problem
Electric cars are cheapest and easiest to run when you can charge at home. So if you didn’t have a driveway, it felt like EVs weren’t really an option.
That’s changed - quickly.
Across the UK, public charging has expanded rapidly. There are now tens of thousands of public chargers, including kerbside and lamppost chargers designed for residential streets. Charging is no longer tied to where you live - it’s tied to where you already park.
How charging without a driveway actually works
In practice, it’s simpler than most people expect.
Most drivers:
- Plug in near home overnight
- Top up while out during the day
- Keep their battery comfortably charged
Charging becomes something you do while your car is already parked.
Is it still cheaper than petrol?
With discounted public charging through No Driveway No Problem, running costs can be around 7p per mile - compared to roughly 15-20p per mile for petrol cars.
A full charge for a typical EV can cost around £16 - compared to around £75 to fill up a petrol car.
What it’s really like day to day
Instead of:
“Drive → fuel when empty”
It becomes:
“Park → plug in when it suits you”
Once you’ve done it a couple of times, it stops feeling like a change - and just becomes part of your normal routine.
For many drivers, this is already working in everyday life - without a driveway, without a home charger, and without higher costs.
With No Driveway No Problem, you can get 50% off kerbside charging or up to £800 of charging credit included with an Intelligent EV lease, making it easier to switch without a home charger.
See how No Driveway No Problem could work for you.
Our claims explained
What do we mean by a 'typical EV'?
Our numbers are based on an MG4 EV.
7p per mile & £16 for full charge
This performance number has been calculated using the discounted kWh rate of 26p and a driving efficiency of 4.0 miles per kWh in an EV with a usable battery capacity of 61.7 kWh, such as an MG4.
26p p/kwh
This charging rate is based on Ubitricity’s Standard rate of 52p and Connected Kerb’s Standard Daytime rate of 52p having a 50% discount applied to them.
Petrol and diesel costs
Calculated using the RAC Fuel Watch - prices correct on 01/04/2026. Performance numbers have been calculated using a vehicle with a 50 litre fuel tank and an MPG of 40-55 such as a VW Golf 1.5l TSI.
Discounted kerbside charging fair use policy
Discounted kerbside charging is subject to a Fair Use Limit based on your specific lease length and mileage. Discounts apply to live gross tariffs at participating providers and revert to standard rates once your Fair Use Limit is reached.
