The Gul-e project was driven by the need to support the predicted rapid uptake of electric vehicles (EVs). Its innovative cross-pavement solution allows residents to safely charge their EV on the street outside their home, using their own power supply, and without causing a trip hazard.

The Gul-e cable gully in the trial provides a discrete underground channel for charging cables to run from homes to roadside parking spots. This avoids trailing cables that could cause public trip hazards.

Back in 2019 Oxford City Council trialled 5 different charging solutions for residents without access to off-street parking, including cable gulleys. The trial found that whilst there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution for on-street charging, a home charger and simple cable gully solution was the cheapest, most highly utilised solution, as well as the one least likely to elicit complaints from neighbours. The success of these trials led Oxford City Council's trading company, ODS, to develop a product called Gul-e. Anyone interested can register interest on their website.

The system has been developed by ODS, Oxford City Council’s local authority trading company. Central Bedfordshire, Cherwell District and the London Borough of Bromley all have trials of the Gul-e solution underway with several others due to start shortly. Oxfordshire have completed their trials and are now setting up the processes to allow a general roll-out, aiming to start in early 2024.