We are thrilled to be awarded the winner of “Best New Product or Service (C&I & public)” for our pop-up mini solar car park and EV charging hub, Papilio3 at The Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence Awards (EVIEs).
Development of electrified powertrain technologies is accelerating throughout the automotive industry as we approach the 2030 ban on new diesel and petrol vehicles. UK sales of EVs are rising monthly. However, the UK requires 2.8 million public EV charge points by 2035. It currently has just 54,000. Papilio3 has been developed to directly combat this infrastructure gap.
Rapid deployment of an EV charging infrastructure
Papilio3 is a pop-up, mini solar car park and EV charging hub that is deployable in only 24 hours. It has been developed by 3ti, the UK’s leading designer, installer, funder and operator of Solar Car Parks (SCPs). Papilio3 overcomes the barriers to adoption of large scale SCP installations, such as capital cost, planning, installation time and other regulatory hurdles. The first unit was installed at the end of May and the company aims to have between 30 – 50 in operation within the next 12 months – a rollout process that will be accelerated by a successful first crowdfunding round, which exceeded £2m, four times 3ti’s initial target, on the Crowdcube platform.
Papilio3 provides a solution that can rapidly accelerate EV adoption through the provision of EV infrastructure that meets the requirements of a significant proportion of EV drivers. As a destination and workplace charging solution, it takes advantage of increased dwell times to provide an efficient EV charge that optimises use of locally generated solar.
While the most efficient form of EV charging is generally done at home, this will not be possible for around 50% of EV drivers. Altering EV drivers’ mindsets – to move away from the traditional-forecourt refuel “Stop to Charge” model of DC Rapid Chargers, and adopt a more convenient, “Charge where you stop” mentality – will be a step-change moment in terms of how EV infrastructure is perceived.
Workplace & destination charging
The cost effective, low-carbon alternative to rapid charging is destination and workplace charging, where cars are parked for upwards of 2-3 hours at a time and where existing grid supplies can be supported by the integration of solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS).
Papilio3 is an innovative solution with the potential to revolutionise how perspective EV drivers think of the ‘ideal’ charging network: shunning the cost- and energy-inefficient forecourt model in favour of a sustainable, renewables-rich alternative where the majority of journeys are rarely interrupted by the need to charge.
For example, cars are parked for 95% of their time – that’s when and where they should be charged. Additionally, 90% of UK journeys are under 50 miles and 95% are under 100 miles. The average length of journey in the UK is 20 miles. With an optimised EV infrastructure in place – such as that which Papilio3 has the potential to put into place – electrification is the optimal source of motive power to deliver on net zero targets and decarbonise the UK transport sector.
Papilio3 is truly innovative. It integrates three technologies that are more usually considered individually, or at best in pairs: solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and EV charge points. Combining the three offers a range of benefits, including the ability to use grid energy, solar power and battery storage to optimise the speed and carbon intensity of EV charging. Onsite renewable energy generation from solar panels also reduces energy costs and gives businesses greater control over energy supply.
Suitable locations for Papilio3 placement include hospitals, hotels, meeting venues, sports or shopping centres, tourist attractions and town centres. Each unit offers sheltered, illuminated and secure parking, plus a convenient, available and reliable EV charging experience that supports a mixture of 7, 11 and 22 kilowatts.
ChargeSafe Accreditation
Each location will now also undergo a stringent 63-point assessment by ChargeSafe, the independent charge point assessment and accreditation body. This will ensure that the design, location, facilities, functionality and accessibility of every Papilio3 charging hub meets the needs of all users as the network of units expands.
Providing low carbon EV charging infrastructure to support the decarbonisation of the transport sector
The automotive industry is advancing faster than ever before and this is an exceptionally exciting time to be involved in EVs. Adoption of a workplace and destination charging mentality, as promised by Papilio3, has the potential to drastically increase the feasibility of EV ownership for the proportion of the UK previously considered to be hamstrung by a lack of home-charging support. Through utilisation of renewables, Papilio3 can truly unleash the potential of EVs.
For more information visit: www.papilio3.com