VolkerSmart Technologies discuss the necessities of greener transportation, stating that EVCPs will play a major part in tackling the climate crisis
At the latest United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), countries were reminded of the requirement to move from negotiations and planning to implementation in addressing the climate crisis. To support this, the conference invited delegates to book electric vehicle transport – a step towards a more sustainable future and greener transportation.
Around 85% of England’s local authorities have now declared climate emergencies. This means that there is a need to reduce per capita CO2 emissions by, on average, 9% every year, in order to meet the Government’s net-zero target by 2050.
Accelerating the climate change reduction journey
To achieve this, public sector organisations are seeking to accelerate their climate change reduction journey. One way of doing this is by encouraging the move to electric transportation. This will not only help reduce emissions and help improve air quality but also supports the Government’s ambition of banning the sale of new petrol and diesel engine cars by 2030 – an initiative which has been brought forward by a decade!
To enable this, there is a growing need for commercial electric vehicle charge points (EVCP) to be installed across our towns and cities. This move will be essential for commuters, and it will also make it possible for residents who do not have access to a home charge point to make the change to electric vehicles.
The installation of EVCPs will play a major part in tackling the climate crisis
VolkerSmart Technologies is a key provider in the EVCP installation market and is seeing a rapid increase in interest in electric vehicle charge points to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles. We are firmly committed to helping businesses and public sector organisations with their electric charge point requirements.
As we take this step towards greener transportation, it is important to address the lack of electrical infrastructure to enable this transition. Much of the electrical infrastructure already available in car parks and residential areas does not meet the needs of the required volume of high-performing, rapid charging points. This is the result of lacking electrical back-off systems and already congested equipment.
Through early contractor involvement advice, VolkerSmart Technologies works with clients to enhance its electrical infrastructure. The business surveys locations to optimise the design of EVCP and cable positioning, testing the equipment for efficiency and providing practical solutions toward greener transportation. As a member of the National Electrical Registration Scheme (NERS), VolkerSmart Technologies can deliver independent connections to metered and unmetered local DNOs, as part of this service. This turnkey solution helps to optimise and clearly define the scope, including product selection and works information, mitigating risk in advance of setting a realistic and achievable specification, programme, and price.
Thanks to VolkerSmart Technologies’ full turnkey solution, the business can undertake additional civil engineering and infrastructure works associated with the installation of EVCP, such as modifications to car park layouts and providing connections directly to local DNOs. This ultimately increases efficiencies by reducing reliance on third parties, housing all project management under one business, and bringing the certainty of reduced timeframes.
Boosting charging points across London
VolkerSmart Technologies is working with Siemens to support the Department for Transport’s Go Ultra Low City Scheme (GULCS), to deliver all civil and electrical works, as well as the installation of lamp column-mounted EVCPs. The scheme aims to encourage more people to consider switching to electric, to help improve air quality in urban hotspots and assist the Government in meeting its emission-cutting targets.
Lamp posts and bollards were selected for mounting EVCP as the electrical infrastructure is already available, providing a cost-effective solution, which uses fewer materials and less space on London’s already congested pavements.
The most recent awards package involves the installation of 1,600 EVCP across six London boroughs, including Ealing, Brent, Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham and Islington. This follows works already completed by VolkerSmart Technologies to install around 1,500 EVCPs in several London boroughs.
VolkerSmart Technologies’ work does not end once the chargers are installed; the business also covers 24/7 emergency standby and call-outs for Siemens in some London boroughs.
Our maintenance package guarantee
VolkerSmart Technologies provides the extra benefit of a reactive and planned maintenance aftercare package, upon the final commissioning of a project – including a two-hour emergency response service. This provides the assurance that any faults will be rectified swiftly, and in most cases, the charger will be back online within four to 24 hours.
Liberty Charge is taking advantage of this benefit. VolkerSmart Technologies has been working collaboratively with Liberty Charge for over a year, installing 300 EVCP across 200 sites, within residential streets in Waltham Forest, Northampton, Croydon, Wandsworth and Hammersmith and Fulham.
VolkerSmart Technologies’ maintenance service provides routine and reactive maintenance and yearly electrical inspections. This involves cleaning, inspecting, and testing the feeder pillars, cleansing and decontaminating the charging cables and testing the power outlet and radiofrequency identification. The yearly tests ensure that the chargers are still safety compliant and certified.
Procure the services of VolkerSmart Technologies
VolkerSmart Technologies is an approved designer, installer and maintainer of EVCP on six frameworks. These frameworks offer public sector organisations the best value-for-money procurement solution from a leading EVCP provider, which has demonstrated excellence in technical, resource and financial capabilities, as well as a collaborative culture and behaviour.
The frameworks include:
- Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Transport Technology and Associated Services Framework
- Crown Commercial Services (CCS) Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Solutions
- Vehicle Charging Infrastructure by the Eastern Shires Purchasing Consortium
- EVC Infrastructure by Efficiency East Midlands
- EVCP installation and maintenance by Crescent Purchasing Consortium
- Pagabo – Civils and Infrastructure Framework
For more information, please email business.development@volkerhighways.co.uk / www.volkersmarttech.co.uk
This work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International.
