Electric car drivers can now power up their cars at a new public network of over 20 re-charging points in Oxford.
The specially-designed 32amp points have been installed by Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD) in 11 public car parks around Oxford as part of the ground-breaking MINI E electric car project currently running in the Thames Valley. And in a pioneering move to further widen the availability of such charging points across the UK, the Oxford network will be linked to a new ‘sister’ network in Milton Keynes, so drivers can charge their cars in either location.
Drivers can use the points to ‘top up’ their electric vehicles whilst out and about, and if needed, fully re-charge their battery in just three hours. Anyone using an electric vehicle is entitled to use the secure points, which will all initially provide free power, as long as they pre-register with the operator.
The high powered points are located at: Public car parks – Westgate, Union Street, Headington, Worcester Street, Summertown and St Clements. A further post is available at BMW’s T-Building car park at Horspath Road, Cowley.
Park and Ride car parks – Thornhill and Pear Tree. Points in Redbridge and Seacourt Park and Rides will be ready soon.
“This is the first network of its kind to be installed in the area and can be used by anyone driving an electric vehicle. As well as being a practical resource for people already using such cars, we hope they will spark people’s interest in electric transport and the environmental benefits it could bring in the future,” said David Densley, Head of Sustainable Transport for SEPD. “We’re also delighted that it will link with the new network in Milton Keynes. This kind of ‘interoperability’ between the two networks will be crucial as electric cars become more popular in the decades ahead.”
The first posts in Milton Keynes* have been installed in Avebury Boulevard near the central Milton Keynes shopping centre, with more planned in the town over coming months.
To use the Oxford and Milton Keynes points, drivers have to pre-register with the scheme operator Chargemaster (www.chargemasterplc.com). If they don’t already have a suitable charging lead to connect their car to the point, one can be purchased from Chargemaster which will be sent to them along with an access key. Drivers will then be able to re charge their car with free electricity at either 32 amps or 13 amps**.
The new Oxford network is thanks to SEPD’s involvement in the MINI E project, a pioneering year-long trial to evaluate the psychological, social and technical aspects of living with an all-electric vehicle. Two groups of 40 volunteers living in the Thames Valley have been getting an once-in-a-lifetime chance to test out the prototype MINI E for six months at a time.
This is the first opportunity for real life drivers to experience a fast charging, fun to drive, longer range electric car under everyday conditions. The MINI E has all the good looks of a standard MINI Hatch, with the performance close to that of the MINI John Cooper Works. The space normally taken by rear passengers is reserved for the powerful lithium-ion battery.
SEPD is providing the electrical infrastructure for the trial, having already installing 32amp home charging points for each driver. It is planning other public charging points across central southern England.
The MINI E consortium is led by BMW and includes Southern Electric, Oxford Brookes University, the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. Financial support for the project has come from the Government-backed Technology Strategy Board***.
* Milton Keynes is one of the first ‘Plugged in Places’ locations selected by the government to encourage the take up of electric cars by providing several hundred charging posts over the next three years.
** A 32 amp charger can fully recharge typical battery in 3 hours, while a 13 amp charge takes about 8 hours. However, this type of unit is normally used to “top up” the battery while using the leisure facilities. Drivers will normally be supplied with a 13 amp lead but a 32 amp lead can be supplied if the car is equipped with a fast charger.
*** The Technology Strategy Board is a business-led government body which works to create economic growth by ensuring that the UK is a global leader in innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visitwww.innovateuk.org.
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