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.