NHS Scotland has welcomed its first pop-up solar car park and electric vehicle (EV) charging hub.
3ti has completed the installation of a Papilio3 pop-up solar car park and EV charging hub at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. The delivery is said to be the ‘first of its kind’ to be operational in Scotland and provides hospital users with access to 12 charge points boosted by renewable energy.
With a fleet of EVs already in operation at the hospital, Papilio3 will support destination and workplace EV charging, while also addressing demand for charging in an area where long dwell times are common.
The Papilio3 is built around a recycled shipping container and can be installed in under eight hours. The solution is pre-fitted with a back-office billing system and a range of technology and user features. The water-tight canopy keeps drivers dry, while energy saving motion sensors automatically operate the lights when a customer approaches. Fully operational CCTV provides additional safety and security.
Papilio3 is available from 3ti on a rental contract and therefore requires no capital investment. With a solar capacity of 19.32kWp, the installed solution is said to generate on average 18MWh of electricity annually and can fast charge up to 12 EVs simultaneously at 7, 11 or 22kW.
Brian Johnstone, head of energy, environment and sustainability at NHS Highland, said, “As part of our commitment to supporting the delivery of healthcare in the future, we understand that our environmental responsibilities go beyond our own services. As an organisation, we are looking to develop innovative ways to harness electricity and utilise renewable energy on-site which Papilio3 is a great example of.
“With the introduction of Papilio3, NHS Highland is now. better positioned to support patients, staff and visitors with EVs at Raigmore. We hope that this investment in EV infrastructure helps to convince others to make the switch over to zero-emission vehicles.”
Shaun Wightman-Smith, business development manager at 3ti, added, “We are proud to deliver another Papilio3, adding to our growing portfolio of applications, this time in the Scottish Highlands. The location of our latest installation showcases the impressive capability of our innovative solar car park, which is designed to provide EV charging infrastructure and reduce grid dependency to a range of facilities in different locations in the UK.”
