World’s first pop-up mini solar car park launched at Surrey Research Park

• 3ti, the team behind the UK’s largest solar car parks, has launched Papilio3, a pop-up mini solar car park, deployable in 24 hours and manufactured in the UK from recycled shipping containers.
• Papilio3 is a modular unit providing up to 12 fast EV charge points, designed to expand EV infrastructure rapidly and provide a much improved, more reliable, safer destination and workplace charging experience for EV drivers.
• Papilio3 combines solar photovoltaics and battery storage with existing local electricity infrastructure to optimise EV charging, bringing benefits of on-site energy to EV users, transitioning away from the traditional service station ‘refuel’ model.
• 3ti’s Papilio3 system also reduces draw on carbon-intensive peak grid electricity, further accelerating decarbonisation of the UK transport sector.

The world’s first pop-up mini solar car park and electric vehicle charging hub, deployable in just 24 hours, has been revealed at Surrey Research Park. Developed by 3ti, the UK’s leading designer, installer, funder and operator of Solar Car Parks (SCPs), Papilio3 tackles the UK’s need to expand electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure ahead of the government’s proposed ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles in 2030.

The unit is built around a recycled shipping container and can support up to 12 fast EV charge points. The solar and battery-boosted charging system optimises the speed of charge and reduces the carbon intensity of electricity used. Papilio3 is available from 3ti on a rental contract and therefore requires no capital investment by customers.

“Overnight charging at home generally provides the most cost effective, carbon efficient, sustainable form of EV charging, but in the UK, around 50% of households will not be able to do this,” explains Tim Evans, 3ti founder & CEO, and also leader of the team responsible for the two largest SCPs in the UK, at Bentley Motors, Crewe and JP Morgan, Bournemouth. “If you live in a flat, a tower block, a rented house, in temporary accommodation or even in a £10m terraced town house in Chelsea, you’re probably not going to be able to charge an EV at home.”

“We believe that solar and battery boosted destination and workplace charging will become the best EV charging solution for drivers, irrespective of the type of home they live in,” he continues. “By utilising dwell times of several hours, when cars are parked at work or when the driver is visiting a shopping or leisure venue, for example, 3ti’s system ensures that EVs can achieve a level of charge that covers day to day driving needs and does it in the most low carbon way.”

Papilio3 integrates three technologies that are more usually considered individually: solar photovoltaic 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.

“One of the best things about owning an EV is that you don’t have to visit a petrol station to fill up,” says 3ti Chief Technical Officer, Mark Potter. “As EV drivers, we want to charge when we stop, not stop to charge. Rapid charging with 50-250 kW is fine for en-route charging during long journeys, but it’s not the right solution for regular use – it increases battery degradation and pushes up electricity prices for everyone, not just those who are charging. If you can’t charge at home, it’s best to charge when you arrive at where you’re going. Cars are parked 95% of their time – that’s when and where they should be charged.”

Grant Bourhill, Chief Executive Officer at Surrey Research Park, comments: “The University of Surrey and Surrey Research Park have a long history of working with industry to drive innovation. We pride ourselves on creating an environment that supports the entrepreneurial community to develop and grow. The roll out of Papilio3 reflects our commitment to sustainability in addition to testing new innovation and supporting business growth. The University of Surrey has recently improved its position to 55^th in the global sustainability rankings of over 1400 institutions, and the work with 3ti is yet another example of our sustainability commitment.”

“We are delighted to be able to accommodate the operations of 3ti’s test bed,” adds Nick Beesly, Chief Operating Officer at Surrey Research Park. “It not only fits with our ethos of helping facilitate innovation, but its product aligns to the crucially important sustainability agenda. This is of paramount importance to many of our tenants. Our sustainability cluster is expanding rapidly within the Park and we look forward to hearing the results of the trial with 3ti.”

For further information on how to register your vehicle to use the service, which will be operational from Monday 6th June, please contact the Surrey Technology Centre reception on: 01483 502003 or email [email protected]