K:Port Neighbourhood EV Smart Hub

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Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£258,480

Jan. 1, 2019

April 30, 2019

"K:Port has been developed to help accelerate EV adoption in the UK, contributing to increased economic growth, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality.

In order to meet these aims, K:Port sets out to:

* Affect positive behavioural change, removing the barriers to adoption (lack of parking, lack of facilities, poor availability and visibility)
* Reduce risks associated with EV charging (poor safety, security and accessibility).
* Meet the growing energy demand (incorporating energy generation and storage)
* Provide a long-term sustainable legacy (with reusable and recyclable components)
* Avoid common procurement pitfalls (focus on best long term value, not just initial capital outlay)
* Achieve deliverable solutions on the ground, real projects with real (and measurable) benefits.

Most existing EV charging solutions are fairly agricultural, having grown out of the solar farm industry or petrol station forecourts. They simply aren't of high enough design quality to be granted planning permission in many of the locations they are most needed i.e. historically sensitive urban centres subject to significant scrutiny.

Hewitt Studios' K:Port neighbourhood EV charging hub represents an exciting change in approach to EV infrastructure - it is a disruptive and sustainable solution which makes a positive change to the environment in which it is located and to the people who use it.

K:Port encompasses the following innovations:

* High-quality, motivational, people-focused charging environment
* New, factory-based methods of construction (maximum speed, minimal site disruption)
* Flexible and scalable solution
* Energy and resource-efficient
* Safe and accessible, even at night
* Easy to maintain
* Designed for disassembly / re-use at the end of life
* Smart grid enabled - a neighbourhood energy hub
* Fundable and cost comparable to conventional solutions
* Well supported with high-profile industry partners inc. ESB, Siemens and Cenex

K:Port formed the basis of successful bids made by both South West and North East Combined Authorities, to OLEV's £40m Go Ultra Low (GUL) Scheme for EV-promoting initiatives in 2016\.

To date we have received a number of commissions to provide small standalone EV charging canopies based on K:Port in sensitive urban locations (for which planning has been granted).

We want to use this project to build capability and develop this one or two module EV charging canopy into a scalable, multi-module neighbourhood smart energy hub, incorporating; EV charging, energy generation & storage (inc. use of V2G enabled EVs), water recycling, air quality monitoring and driver & community facilities."