UE ONE -
MK1
Worlds first pop-up EV charger Location: Oxford
Duku have partnered with Urban Electric Networks Ltd and Oxford City Council to create an app-operated EV charging point for residential streets that retracts underground when not in use, minimising the impact on the urban environment to leave roads free of street clutter.
Initial concept development work focused on creating a reliable and robust bollard that could extend approximately 800mm above ground level whilst maintaining a minimal installation footprint. Alongside this, extensive electronic development work focused on integrating the required functionality to provide safe, secure and OCCP compliant EV charging.
Early proof of concept prototypes analysed different methods of providing extension and retraction of the bollard whilst maintaining a compact footprint. Extensive 3D CAD design and 3D printing fast tracked development allowing rapid progression to real-world trials in Oxford.
Funding provided by Innovate UK allowed the project to progress rapidly to real-world trials in a residential street in Oxford with feedback from residents helping to refine the design. It has led to a further Innovate UK project to move the design to mass production via further real world trials in Dundee and Plymouth.
