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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£801,165

Sept. 30, 2020

March 31, 2021

Over eight million households in the UK (30%) are unable to access the governments Electric Vehicle Home-Charging Scheme as they do not have access to private off-road parking. Providing alternative access to EV charging for people who must park their car on the street is critical to the UK's transition to electric vehicles (EV).

Current on-street EV charging infrastructure is complex, time consuming and costly to install and manage; street clutter, costly electrical and data connections and maintenance create a weak business case for investment and limited choice for local authorities and consumers.

Our project seeks to radically depart from the existing market offering with a disruptive and simple approach which has not been deployed before. Our experienced team will build on a concept piloted in the Go Ultra Low Oxford Project to develop a design and prototype for a purpose built 'cable gully', which can be used to safely transit an EV charging cable from a home charger to EV an parked at the kerb, allowing the user to use their home energy supply to charge their car. We are not aware of this approach being pursued elsewhere in the UK or internationally.

The proposed solution is an example of disruptive frugal innovation; requiring reduced capital outlay and on-going revenue for maintenance while simultaneously enabling more households to be part of future the future smart energy system through allowing EVs to act as home energy storage when bi-directional charging is available. Our solution empowers those who park on the street with greater choice by providing access to the healthy home charger market, and supports local authorities with a sustainable option for providing on-street EV charging access.

The project team will also explore a novel sustainable business models together with developing the processes and policies to allow for providing this solution across Oxfordshire and further afield, whether through local authorities; or in partnership with the home charger market.

Oxford Direct Services (ODS) will take the lead on gully design and installation together with business model development. Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) will examine how the solution can be offered to residents as efficiently as possible and the policies/processes required to achieve this.

This project will move the cable gully solution from 'proof of concept' stage into a position where deployment can be piloted on a larger scale; either with the support of further innovation funding, or through private investment.