Once just a small company based in Brighton, it seems there is now no stopping Elektromotive as it continues its European expansion.

Last week we told you that the company was heading to Belgium and Luxembourg (see article), and now it will play a pivotal role in the introduction of an electric vehicle recharging infrastructure in Denmark.

It will be responsible for the installation of the first Elektrobay roadside charging stations, which are scheduled to be completed ahead of this month’s COP15 global climate change conference in Copenhagen, which takes place from December 7-15.

The first Elektrobays will be located in Copenhagen and the city of Odense after the company appointed a Danish roll-out partner in the form of CleanCharge Solutions, to carry out the installations. There will be several more bays installed during 2010.

According to Elektromotive managing director Calvey Taylor-Haw, the initiative arrives at a pivotal time.   

“This is a crucial moment for the Danish market and the global shift towards zero-emissions motoring,” he said.  

“Not only is Copenhagen poised to be the hub for climate-change decision making, the country is also taking steps to become a leading market for EV use.  Working with CleanCharge as our Danish roll-out partner means Elektromotive will be at the forefront of the country’s ambitious EV project from the very outset.”

During COP15, government officials from 192 countries are expected to offer further support for the uptake of electric vehicles and the deployment of new charging infrastructure. More than 15,000 delegates will have the chance to trial three Elektrobay units – currently the Elektrobay from Elektromotive is the only fully operational solution for charging electric vehicles.

UK based Elektromotive is making headway in the electric vehicle recharging market after appointing ThePluginCompany to install networks of charging stations across Belgium and Luxembourg.

Pilot schemes will begin almost straightaway, with 20 Elektrobay units to be installed in the country by the end of the year with further rollouts planned in 2010.

The first project starts in Brussels at the headquarters of LeasePlan, the world’s largest vehicle management and leasing provider. Installations at other LeasePlan locations will follow next year, supporting the company’s commitment to increasing the availability of both low and zero emission vehicles within its European fleet.

In addition, Elektromotive and The PluginCompany will work together to educate businesses and legislators in Belgium and Luxembourg about the benefits of zero emission motoring as well as the need for compatible recharging infrastructures. They will then detail the steps that can be taken to quickly implement the Elektrobay networks ahead of the arrival of new electric and plug-in hybrids which are scheduled to be launched over the next three years.

The first Elektrobay was introduced in Westminster, London, in 2006 and by December 2009 there will be more than 120 across the capital with a further 90 charging stations installed in cities and shopping centres around the UK. Elektromotive has also exported its technology to the Netherlands, Iceland, Saudi Arabia, Ireland, Germany and Sweden.

Leading provider of electric vehicle recharging bays, Elektromotive, has been selected as one of the UK companies to trial the new electric version of the smart fortwo.  By testing the car in ‘real-life’ situations, Elektromotive will provide invaluable data to Mercedes-Benz, the manufacturer of smart, which will help shape the development of  the car.

Elektromotive has taken delivery of its own fully electric smart and, over the next 4 years, will report back on the car’s battery performance, reliability and range. The information will be evaluated by smart as it moves towards small series production of the smart electric drive in 2010.

The trial will also form part of Elektromotive’s ongoing research and development programme, helping it devise new EV charging facilities for installation at the roadside, in car parks, at homes and in business premises.

The keys to the smart electric drive were presented to Elektromotive’s Managing Director, Calvey Taylor-Haw, by the smart electric drive Project Manager, Tom Morrison Jones, at Mercedes-Benz World in Brooklands, Surrey.

“The shift towards zero emissions motoring is fast gathering pace, and it is vital that fully compatible recharging infrastructures for EVs are put in place across Europe,” said Mr. Taylor-Haw. “With daily access to a smart electric drive we will accelerate the real-world evaluation of new charging technologies, such as fast-charging solutions for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.

“To be working with a major manufacturer like smart also enables us to have an input into how future EVs will operate, especially in terms of battery performance.”

The smart electric drive has been developed by Mercedes-Benz and is powered solely on electricity.  It is virtually silent when running and also emits no harmful substances, such as carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide, into the environment. Charged using a standard three-pin plug, the two seater has a range of up to 70 miles and has a top speed of 60mph.

Dermot Kelly, Managing Director Mercedes-Benz UK, commented: “The smart electric drive project is an important part of our commitment towards developing sustainable transport solutions across the Mercedes-Benz business.  smart continues to be a pioneer in the world of environmentally friendly and economical driving and we’re delighted that Elektromotive is our partner in this exciting electric car trial.”

Already located on roadsides throughout London and in other major UK cities as well as in shopping-centre car parks across the country, the Elektrobay charging station is compatible with all fully-electric vehicles and plug-in electric hybrids.  Its ease of use has already proven popular among electric vehicle drivers, leading to round-the-clock usage and heightening demand for additional installations on UK streets.

The spectacular 15th century Guildhall, in the heart of the City of London, was the backdrop for the GreenFleet Awards 2009 on the evening of Thursday 1st October.

Nominees, sponsors, guests and hosts gathered in the famous grand hall as Fifth Gear’s Tiff Needell hosted the award ceremony which is now in its 11th year.

In total 23 awards were handed out to individuals, companies, and public bodies that had achieved great success in the promotion and delivery of greener technology over the previous 12 months.

Highlight of the evening from the point of view of TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk was in the prestigious category ‘Green Motoring Journalist of the Year, sponsored by Rockingham’, where our very own Paul Lucas was shortlisted alongside WhatCar? Editor Steve Fowler, and Freelance journalist Richard Aucock.

In the end there could be only one winner and happily the accolade went to Paul Lucas for his work as Content Editor on this very website. Collecting the award on his behalf at the ceremony were Marketing & PR Manager Richard Lawton and TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk Editor Faye Sunderland.

Other winners on the night included German carmaker BMW, which took home the award for ‘Fleet Car Manufacturer of the Year’ ahead of the shortlisted Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Citroen. Not content with the one award, BMW also walked away with the ‘Industry Innovation Award’, ahead of Elektromotive and Mitsubishi Motors. BMW has had an impressive year in developing and delivering real efficiency savings across its range of premium cars, thanks to its pioneering efficientdynamics program. Elektromotive might have been pipped to the innovation award by BMW however the ‘Outstanding Achievement Award’ would make up for any disappointing when company founder Calvey Taylor-Haw was announced as the recipient.

More news on other worthy winners later today.

Brighton is set to become the UK’s most electric vehicle (EV)-friendly city outside London, with a little help from Elektromotive, the electric car recharging point maker. Plans to install 20 Elektrobay roadside charging stations over the coming year are part of a concerted effort to encourage zero-emissions motoring in the city. Councillors in Brighton have already given the go ahead to install an initial 10 Elektrobays in Brighton by the end of 2009, with a further 10 planned for installation early next year.

Brighton-based Elektromotive developed and manufacturers the innovative Elektrobay charging station, and will be responsible for the implementation of the project. Since 2006, the company has successfully established a network of more than 100 roadside charging stations in London, many of which are used around-the-clock by EV users.

Elektromotive has already completed installation of four Elektrobays at pilot sites – with two located at Bartholomews in the city centre, and another two in Ditchling Road near The Level. The units will be in full working order in preparation for the official launch at 12:00 noon on Friday 2nd October outside the Town Hall.

The remaining Elektrobays will be installed in two phases. Funded by Civitas, the clean transportation specialists, the first 10 Elektrobays will be sited in central Brighton. A further 10 charging stations will be subsidised by another organisation and will be located in other, yet-to-be-confirmed, parts of Brighton and Hove city.

“We have installed the Elektrobay in locations across the country, as well as in Europe and even Saudi Arabia, but this project is especially exciting for us as it is taking place in our home town,” commented Managing Director of Elektromotive, Calvey Taylor-Haw.

“By encouraging drivers to switch to electric, Brighton will benefit hugely. There will be less air pollution and local residents will appreciate the quiet of EVs. The installation of the Elektrobays will take place over a short period of time, providing EV users with rapid access to charging facilities.”

Compatible with all pure electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the Elektrobay’s simple-to-operate functionality makes it the ideal solution for public EV charging. The single socket unit has a power supply of 13 amps – the same as a household plug – and is fully safety-compliant for consumers and pedestrians. Consumers access the Elektrobay’s power supply using a personalised wireless key fob that opens the door at the front of the unit. To prevent interference from a third party, the door locks shut when charging is in progress.

To prevent a trip hazard for pedestrians, including the blind and partially sighted, a highly visible yellow coiled cable is provided to all Elektrobay consumers, which extends to 3.5 metres, sitting at waist height when charging is in progress. For the design of the Elektrobay, Elektromotive worked in close consultation with local authorities and opted for a single socket in each unit to allow pedestrians to safely access the pavement when the charging lead is plugged in to an EV. Elektromotive points out that a charging station with cables running to two EVs creates a cordon that obstructs pedestrian access to and from the pavement.

Saudi Arabia is probably the last place you’d expect to see a concerted shift towards emission free motoring – after all, the Kingdom is the world’s leading oil producer and exporter. However, now one of its leading universities has signed one of the largest electric vehicle infrastructure deals, with Brighton-based Elektromotive the beneficiary.

Elektromotive will install 150 Elektrobay charging stations across the campus of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology by September this year. The charging points will be used for recharging the 150 new electric vehicles that will transport staff and pupils around the campus reducing the university’s carbon footprint and improving air quality. 

The deal presents a unique challenge for Elektromotive as the university’s engineers must install the charging points in car parks that have shallow, solid concrete flooring as opposed to typical on-street foundations that are 400mm deep. The company’s solution is to create a bespoke ground plate and mounting post and then integrating the electrical feed cable that can be bolted to the concrete surface.

Understandably, Elektromotive’s managing director Calvey Taylor-Haw is excited about the deal.

“We’re thrilled to be involved in this project,” commented Taylor-Haw.  “The project has already posed a number of interesting technical challenges, but we have the expertise and the experience to meet the university’s objectives on time and within budget.”

The news further cements Britain’s place as a leader in the development of electric vehicle infrastructure technology with Elektromotive already exporting to Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland and Germany.

This year the Goodwood Festival of Speed (3 to 5 July) will showcase some of the world’s newest and most sophisticated electric cars and motorcycles.  To ensure they all remain fully charged for their multiple emissions-free runs up the legendary 1.6-mile hill-climb, Brighton-based Elektromotive is supplying the event organisers with four Elektrobays, the world’s only electric vehicle charging station in widespread day-to-day use.

Already a familiar site on the streets of London and various locations around the UK, the Elektrobay will power all 13 of the Festival’s concept, prototype and production-ready electric-powered exhibits.  The Elektrobays will provide a standard 13-amp charge to the vehicles, which include fully-electric sports cars, superminis, people carriers and motorbikes.   These exhibits will be located alongside Elektromotive’s own stand within the Festival’s
Fos-TECH Pavillion.

Among the electric-powered performance cars showcasing their thoroughbred powertrains on the demanding hill route will be the Brabus Tesla Roadster, Infiniti Essence, Frazer Nash Namir, Renault Ondelios concept, Rinspeed Project iChange and RUF Greenster.

Managing Director of Elektromotive, Calvey Taylor-Haw, said: “The wide variety of vehicles on display at FoS-TECH underlines how it is now possible to build electric powertrains for all bodystyles and customer needs.  As the viability of electric vehicle technology improves, the need for a compatible roadside charging infrastructure becomes more urgent.  Elektromotive is a natural partner for the Fos-TECH Pavillion, as it is the only company building fully-functioning charging points for roadside, car park and domestic use.”

The number of the Elektrobay charging station in the UK is set to increase considerably over the coming year, thanks to the provision of new funding by the Technology Strategy Board – the government body backing business innovations in technology.  Trial projects of 340 electric vehicles will be executed in the West Midlands, Glasgow, the North East, Oxford and London.  Taking part in the scheme are eight consortia that comprise vehicle manufacturers, energy suppliers, councils, regional development agencies and academia.  The £25 million subsidy will support the installation of more than 500 charging stations, the majority of which will be Elektrobays.

To find out more about Elektromotive or to locate your nearest Elektrobay charging station, please visit www.elektromotive.com.  For more information about the Goodwood Festival of Speed, please visit www.goodwood.co.uk.