Poole BC has installed a solar powered rapid charger for electric vehicles, in what the council claims is a UK first.
Installed in the Poole Civic Centre public car park, the rapid charger draws its power from a recently installed 135kWp solar installation on the roof of an adjacent car park.
The Department for Transport’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles is funding the installation of the of six rapid charging points in the borough, while the solar panels were installed as part of Poole’s Carbon Management Programme and funded by prudential borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board.
Andrew Flockhart, interim chief executive, Borough of Poole, said: ‘This is a great example of our staff working together to link two significant council projects, delivering innovation, savings and additional benefits for the local community. We are building a business case for further solar panel projects and will look for more opportunities to integrate electric vehicle chargers with solar panels in the future.’
Cllr Ian Potter, cabinet member for transport at Poole, said: ‘Poole is leading the way in using solar power for the benefit of local people. We hope other organisations will follow our lead and install solar panels on their buildings to generate carbon free electricity.’
