Electric vehicle charging
Transport innovation
Energy Superhub Oxford has developed Europe’s most powerful electric vehicle (EV) charging hub at Redbridge Park & Ride. The site is connected directly to National Grid high-voltage transmission system, alleviating strain on the local distribution network and delivering up to 10MW of power, enough to charge up to 400 cars at once.
A study of the Council’s fleet examined the challenges of migrating its 340 vehicles, managed by Oxford Direct Services, to electric, from cars and vans through to tipper trucks and refuse collection vehicles. The project has helped fund the electrification of 40 of these, covering a full range of vehicles. The project is exploring the value to be gained by ‘smart’ charging, using variable time-of-day tariffs to pick the cheapest times to charge.
EV network cable route
The cable route is approximately 4 miles in length, connecting Redbridge Park & Ride to National Grid’s high-voltage transmission system at Cowley substation. A connection has also been installed at Oxford Bus Company’s Watlington Road depot, ready to support the electrification of the city’s bus fleet. The network could be extended in the future to other key points around the city as EV charging needs grow.
Adding buses
We’re working with local bus operators, Oxford Bus Company and Stagecoach, to assess the opportunities for a phased migration of their fleets to zero emission electric vehicles. This will significantly improve air quality in and around the city and boost the already key role that buses play by replacing cars.
Taxi trials
We have run a ‘try before you buy’ scheme and provided grant funding to Oxford’s cab drivers, enabling them to try out different electric taxis and help make the switch to an electric vehicle. Both the LEVC and Dynamo models were trialled as part of the scheme.
Further opportunities?
There are many other potential users for the EV network, and it is our aim to open the network up to other businesses around the ring road as their needs for EV charging grow. In the longer term, further extensions could be made to include other Park and Rides.
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Project plan
ESO is a four-year project, launched in April 2019. 2022 marks when the project will be fully operational across power, transport and heat.
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