Clean Streets EV Infrastructure Toolkit: Feasibility Study

Lead Participant: URBAN FORESIGHT LIMITED

Abstract

"Our project will meet the challenge of providing low-cost charging solutions at scale for electric vehicle users without access to off-street parking.

Recognising that 87% of EV drivers want to charge 'at home' and that 30% - 43% of UK households have no access to off-street parking for charging, we believe that, although there is an important role for public charging facilities such as EV hubs, the only fully scalable solution involves providing affordable, dependable, smart grid enabled on-street Electric Vehicle Supporting Equipment (EVSE). Furthermore, we believe that to be successful it is vital that this equipment has a neutral or positive impact on the urban streetscape.

To this end, the project partners, Urban Foresight, Urban Electric Networks, Lucy Zodion and Dundee City Council will create a ""Clean Street"" EVSE Toolkit for use by local authorities and their delivery agents. The Toolkit will use a combination of technology and design approaches for deploying on-street charging for town and city residents, businesses and visitors in a way that minimises impacts on accessibility, functionality and the look-and-feel of city streets. It will deliver a clear methodology for application in the context of a particular location, providing a set of practical guidelines, design criteria, and specifications in the framework of a sustainable investment model.

Phase 1 of the project will consider the key elements of the toolkit will consist, namely:

? In-ground and aesthetically designed EV chargers with integrated feeder pillars that minimise the impact of on-street EVSE. Our project builds on Urban Electric Networks' successful UEone Innovate UK-funded pop-up charger trials in Oxford;

? In-ground parking sensors that, through a user-friendly guidance and payment app enable EV drivers to know in advance whether an on-street parking and charging space is available, building on over 500 Bluetooth Low Energy sensors in on-street parking bays, to be deployed throughout Dundee over the next 18 months;

? Design tools and options for integrating EVSE functionally and aesthetically into a variety of city streetscapes, e.g. residential, commercial, tourist;

? A Special Purpose Vehicle financial model that incentivises and rewards local authorities for the creation of on-street parking and charging facilities, without monopolising parking spaces for EVs.

The project will focus on initial deployment in Dundee, the ideal location to test feasibility and demonstrate the solution due to both its internationally recognised leadership in EV deployment and its position as the UK's only UNESCO City of Design."

Lead Participant

Project Cost

Grant Offer

URBAN FORESIGHT LIMITED £49,151 £ 34,406
 

Participant

TUV SUD LIMITED
URBAN ELECTRIC NETWORKS LTD £29,828 £ 20,879
DUNDEE CITY COUNCIL
INNOVATE UK

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