Brand new on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints are now live for testing in the London boroughs of Brent and Camden.
The project has been led by energy consultancy Element Energy, an ERM Group company, and will result in local EV drivers trialling 150 new on-street chargepoints. The innovative chargepoints, designed by Trojan Energy, sit flat and flush with the pavement so have no permanent raised structure. This technology will provide vital on-street charging for those without driveways or garages, whilst keeping our streets clear of additional clutter.
For the STEP trial, 10 sets of 15 charge points are installed on six streets in Brent and four streets in Camden. Currently nine streets are live, with the final street in Camden due to be operational later this year. More than 150 EV drivers have
signed-up to use the technology, with the trial scheduled to run for several months. If the trial is successful and passes council consultation, the system will remain in use for years to come.
Trojan Energy designed the unique flat and flush charging system for those without access to off-street parking. Importantly, Disability Rights UK provided design input to improve usability for all drivers and increase safety for all street users.
The full launch of the trial is a key milestone in the three-year Subsurface Technology for Electric Pathways (STEP) project, funded by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) and delivered by Innovate UK, which has seen the charge points developed from concept, through manufacturing and now deployment.
Element Energy have designed surveys for trial participants alongside academic partners from the Institute of Transport Studies at the University of Leeds to evaluate the success of the project. Success will not only be defined by feedback from local EV drivers using the technology, but additionally by more than 150 nearby non-trial residents providing their feedback on the new infrastructure in their area. Results
from this research will feed into Trojan Energy’s future deployment strategy of these innovative chargepoints.
Key electricity industry project partners have brought their expertise to the team. UK Power Networks have provided the connections to the electricity network and assisted in finding the balance between power and availability for the
systems. Octopus Energy has brought its innovation team’s expertise in areas such as tariffs and metering and is Trojan’s ongoing 100% renewable energy supply partner.
For more information on the project please see the final project report or contact Oliver Robinson, the Project Manager, at oliver.robinson@element-energy.co.uk
Ian Mackenzie, CEO of Trojan Energy, said “The whole Trojan Energy team is grateful for the support of the project partners in achieving the next milestone in volume deployment of our systems. The learnings from here will underpin our whole market approach as we move from trials to commercial roll out, across the UK and around the world.”
Oliver Robinson, the Project Manager and Senior Consultant at Element Energy, commented “The project has achieved its impressive goal of bringing over 100 well-designed, neat on-street chargers to people across Brent and Camden. I am proud of the Consortium and looking forward to seeing the future of commercial rollout for Trojan Energy as they accelerate the transition to net zero for drivers who park on street.”
Councillor Krupa Sheth, cabinet member for Environment at Brent Council, said “I am delighted that six streets in Brent have additional charging points for electric cars. This is another huge step forwards in making climate friendly travel even more accessible for residents. This is one of a number of initiatives on our journey to achieve zero carbon emissions in Brent by 2030.”
Neil Madgwick, Head of Service Delivery at UK Power Networks, said “Projects like this are vital to delivering greater accessibility to charging infrastructure that truly works for everyone. Whether you’re driving an EV, are yet to make the switch or are a pedestrian using the street, these innovative charge points are keeping the pavement clear for all who are using it, whilst ensuring those who need to charge their car can.”
Professor Jillian Anable, of the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds, said “Using surveys of EV drivers on the trial and non-EV driver residents in the area, we will be assessing how the new charging technology affects local amenity, parking, and the charging behavior of EV drivers. We anticipate the Trojan Energy technology has the potential to alleviate public concerns in all these areas.”
Partner / Funding info
About OZEV
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) is a team working across government to support the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs). We are providingsupport for the take-up of plug in vehicles, as well as funding to support chargepoint infrastructure across the UK. This will contribute to economic growth and will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution on our roads.
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK (IUK) is the UK’s national innovation agency. We support business-led innovation in all sectors, technologies and UK regions. We helpbusinesses growthrough the development and commercialisation of new products, processes, and services, supportedby an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive, and easy to navigate.
About Element Energy
Element Energy, an ERM Groupcompany, is a strategic energyconsultancy, specialising in the intelligent analysis of low carbon energy. We provide consultancy services across a wide range of sectors (smart electricity and gas networks, energy storage, carbon capture, renewable energy systems and low carbon vehicles). Our work involves consulting on both technical and strategic issues – we believe our technical and engineering understanding of the real-worldchallengessupport the strategic work and vice versa.
About Trojan Energy
Founded in 2016, Trojan Energywas formed with one keymission; to ensure everyone benefits from the energy transition. With a strong focus on enabling the uptake of electric vehicles, Trojan Energy developedthe Trojan EV Charging System. The unique system, with flat and flush charge points slotted into the ground, provides charging to EV users without driveways – allowing convenient charging access for all without the need for on- street clutter.
About Octopus Energy
Octopus Energy launched to the public in April 2016. It is a certified B-corp, and supplies 100% renewable electricity and gas to 2.2 million UK homes. Octopus Energy is the only energy supplier to be recommended by Which? for four years in a row. It also recently won Best Utility at the Utility Week Awards. Founded by e- commerce entrepreneurs, Octopus Energy has a different starting point to other suppliers, aiming to redefine what is possible for consumers and the system by using technology and data to deliver the best products and experiences.
Octopus Energy is backed by Octopus Group, a financial services and energy firm, which manages more than
£9.1bn of funds. In December 2020, Octopus Energy Group was valued at over $2 billion after closing its second investment round of the year led by international energy companies Tokyo Gas and Origin Energy. With operations in the US, Japan, Germany, New Zealand and Australia, Octopus Energy’s mission to drive the affordable green revolutionis going global.
For more information, check out our website.
About The University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is one of the largest higher education institutions in the UK, with more than 38,000 students from more than 150 different countries, and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. The University plays a significant role in the Turing, Rosalind Franklin and Royce Institutes.
We are a top ten university for research andimpact power in the UK, according to the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, and are in the top 100 of the QS World University Rankings 2020.
The University was awarded a Gold rating by the Government’s Teaching Excellence Framework in 2017, recognising its ‘consistently outstanding’ teaching and learning provision. Twenty-six of our academics have been awarded National Teaching Fellowships – more thanany other institution in England, Northern Ireland and Wales – reflecting the excellence of our teaching. www.leeds.ac.uk
About Brent Council
Brent London Borough Councilis the local authority for the London Boroughof Brent in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, one of 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. It is based at Brent Civic Centre in Engineers Way, Wembley. For more information visit https://www.brent.gov.uk/
About Camden Council
Camden Council is the local authority for the London Boroughof Camden. It is basedat Five Pancras Square, N1C 4AG. For more information visit https://www.camden.gov.uk/
About UK Power Networks
UK Power Networks is the country’s biggest electricity distributor, making sure the lights stay on for more than
eight million homes and businesses across London, the South-East and the East of England.
Network operators aren’t the same as energy suppliers; network operators manage local power lines and substations, while energysuppliers sell the electricity that runs through the power lines.
UK Power Networks continues to be listed in the Top 25 Best Big Companies to Work For, and made industry history by becoming first companyto win Utility of the Year two years running (2015 and 2016 also 2012).
The company invests more than£600 million in its electricity networks every year, offers extra help to vulnerable customers at times of need, and is undertaking trials to ensure that electricity networks support the transition to a low carbon future. It also moves cables and connects new electricity supplies. If you have a power cut ring 105, see www.ukpowernetworks.co.uk or tweet us @UKPowerNetworks