FAQs

Energy Superhub Oxford (ESO) is one of three demonstrator projects part-funded by the UK government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund under its “Prospering from the Energy Revolution” (PFER) programme. ESO is a world-first project which aims to demonstrate the benefits of smart local energy systems by combining technological innovation in transport, heat and power, creating a model for cities around the world to cut carbon and improve air quality.

ESO is helping Oxford City Council’s reach net zero by 2040. By showcasing cutting-edge electric vehicle charging, energy storage systems, and low carbon heating, plus smart energy management technologies, it aims to save 10,000 tonnes of CO2 per year once operational, rising to 25,000 tonnes per year by 2032.

ESO has installed 42 charge points at Redbridge Park & Ride, combining fast to ultra-rapid chargers. These are operated by three different Charge Point Operators; Fastned, Tesla Superchargers and Wenea.

A public superhub has been developed at Redbridge Park & Ride offering 42 charge points for public use.

Charge points have also been installed at Oxford City Council depots to enable the council to electrify a range of vehicles, from cars and vans through to tipper trucks.

The ESO team are also in discussions with local bus operators, taxi firms and businesses to assess how and where the project could deliver additional capacity to support the electrification of transport across the city.

42 charge points have been installed at Redbridge Park & Ride catering for the full range of vehicles. This includes 22 ultra-rapid DC chargers, capable of charging a car in 15-20 minutes, and 20 fast AC chargers which can charge a car over a period of hours, for example while Park & Ride users are visiting the city centre.

The project has developed a cutting-edge hybrid battery energy storage system that combines the high-power capabilities of a 50MW/50MWh lithium-ion battery with the longer-duration, non-degrading characteristics of a 2MW/5MWh vanadium flow battery.

The battery is situated to the South East of Oxford alongside National Grid’s Cowley substation.

Vanadium flow batteries have different characteristics to lithium-ion batteries, providing longer-duration storage capabilities with limited degradation. The technology uses the flow of vanadium electrolyte across an ion exchange membrane. In a world-first ESO is combining the two technologies to create a hybrid battery energy storage system which can leverage the capabilities of both systems to maximise benefits to the electricity grid and users.

No, EVs will charge directly from the high voltage power network, which will deliver massive amounts of power where and when it is needed to enable mass-scale, rapid EV charging.

ESO supported Oxford City Council’s Try-B4-U-Buy scheme which offered hackney cab drivers the opportunity to trial two different types of electric taxis, the LEVC and Dynamo, before they buy. The project also provided grant funding to help taxi drivers with the cost of buying an electric vehicle.