Major electric vehicle charging change will be a godsend for people without a driveway

Motorists who lack a driveway will be able to join the electric car revolution with plans to run cables under pavements so drivers can plug their vehicles into their homes' power. This will allow drivers to tap into cheaper domestic electricity rates and save them up to £1,500 a year on the cost of running a petrol or diesel car - as well as cutting out the hassle of finding a charging hub.

The £25million scheme is part of a £63million funding boost intended to tear away barriers to driving a electric vehicle. The under-pavement cabling is designed to allow drivers to run their cars for as little as two pence a mile. It comes as the number of chargepoints in the UK has hit 82,000 - with a further 100,000 expected.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "We are making it easier and cheaper to own an electric vehicle. We know access to charging is a barrier for people thinking of making the switch, and we are tackling that head-on so that everyone - whether or not they have a driveway - can access the benefits of going electric.

"Our investment is about more than just charging points - it's about charging up Britain's economy. I'm proud that through this boost, we are helping deliver cheaper bills for families, massive savings for the NHS to reinvest in patient care, and thousands of new green jobs."

She added: "We're not just boosting charging infrastructure, we're building a fairer, cleaner future where every family can benefit from cheaper, greener transport, whilst creating thousands of good jobs across the country."

Change is also coming to the NHS. Ambulances and medical fleets at 200 sites in England will be electrified through an £8million fund intended to save £120million in costs. More than 1,200 charging sockets will be provided for the NHS.

In a further move, charging hubs will be signposted from motorways and major A-roads for the first time.

The Government insists the costs of owning an electric vehicle are coming down with two out of five cars sold for less than £20,000, and 34 brand new models on sale for under £30,000. It boasts the UK was the largest market for electric vehicles in Europe last year with more than 382,000 sold - an increase of a fifth on the previous year.

One new chargepoint is added the equivalent of every half hour.

Edmund King, the president of the AA, said: "There are more public chargers than people realise, but they are often hidden in plain sight. Increasing signs for the public network is vital to help the EV transition as it will create confidence for drivers both now and in the future.

"It is great to see more support for those without off-street parking so that they can also benefit from the EV revolution."

Delvin Lane, the chief executive of the InstaVolt public charging network, described it as a "major milestone for the EV industry and drivers across the UK".

Ian Johnston, the CEO of the Osprey charging network stressed the importance of extra signage, saying: "Signage impacts all the UK's drivers because consumers need to see it to believe it".

Councils will be invited to apply for the funding for under-pavement cabling. The local authorities will be required to demonstrate how they will deliver the installations.