Breaking new ground with Hammersmith & Fulham

The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) has been focusing on tackling travel, as part of its commitment to “contribute to a safe climate for current and future generations”. The Borough is aiming to become carbon net-zero by 2030 and road transport accounts for 16 per cent of local emissions.

To give residents the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles, the council wanted to grow their EV charging infrastructure quickly. We were delighted to be awarded the contract to help them realise their ambition of installing 2,000 more on-street charge points by the end of 2022 and beyond that, a charge point on every street in the Borough, where possible.

H&F already had the highest density of charge points anywhere in the UK – but this new commitment certainly moved them up a gear!

New charge points, multi purpose

The lamp post chargers being installed for H&F offer an affordable and convenient charging solution for EV owners with no access to off-street charging facilities of their own. Every home or office is now within 400 metres of a charge point and as the council says, they have the lowest number of residents per available charger.

The charge points have a multi-purpose use in the borough too. Not only are they used by residents without off-street parking to charge their EV’s, the chargers can be used by market stall traders to power their stalls, instead of using generators. There is also an ice cream van in the borough, which can now turn off its diesel engine and plug in its fridges to a clean, quiet energy supply.

Financing the expansion

The new investment was made possible because of the council’s successful bid for central government funding, as well as additional funding through commercial partners, and we look forward to working with H&F to continue the roll-out of their charge points right across the borough.

The reaction

“It’s been great working with Joju Charging as we make Hammersmith & Fulham number one for electric vehicle chargers. Joju have a real understanding of what local authorities require and want.”

Dave Kiteley, Lead Electrical Engineer, Hammersmith & Fulham Team

“By providing the necessary EV infrastructure, we’re empowering residents to make more sustainable travel choices to improve their own health and well-being as well as local air quality.”

Cllr Stephen Cowan, Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham

Discover more

Find out how on street charging has transformed Portsmouth

Read more about Joju Charging, here

Get in touch with us about your Public Sector EV Charging Infrastructure project

Excelling in reducing carbon – Xcel Leisure Centre

Elmbridge Borough Council has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2030 and one of their key actions is to cut the carbon output from their buildings. To achieve this, we’ve worked with the council on a variety of projects including installing solar at Centres for the Community in Walton, Cobham, Claygate, Molesey, and Hersham. We’ve installed solar at Hersham Village Hall, and we’ve also created a solar car port at the Civic Centre in Esher.
Following this, we were delighted to be selected to design and install the solar array on the roof of the council-owned Xcel Leisure Complex in Walton-on-Thames as well.

The approach

Places Leisure run the Xcel Complex, The Sports Hub and Hurst Pool. It’s a vibrant space with swimming, gym, and climbing facilities on offer. There’s a sports hall, studio, squash courts, sauna and steam room, soft play area and café on site too, so of course it was essential that the Complex was open as normal throughout the installation. Our approach is always to make sure buildings stay open, and that was the case throughout the three-week install. When we did need to shut down the power, we worked out of hours so that normal opening hours for the Centre were not affected.

The kit, carbon reductions, and energy savings

Every leisure centre user brings their kit to the Complex and we were no different… although our kit was panels, a mounting system, and inverters, rather than exercise gear, sports shoes, and swimming costumes!

We installed 973 JA solar panels on the roof, using a Sun Fixings mounting system and Solis inverters – and the results have been fantastic. Since the system has been installed in May 2023, the electrical consumption on site has been reduced by over 36%, which will lead to an estimated CO2 saving of over 75 tonnes per year.

The reaction

Councillor David Young, Portfolio Holder for Climate Change, said how thrilled he is that Elmbridge is another step closer to achieving its carbon neutral pledge:

“The installation of these solar panels and the reduction in electrical consumption at the Xcel Leisure Complex further reinforces our commitment to climate change. This shows that with collective commitment and determination, we can deliver on our pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030.”

Daniel Walker, Business Development Director at Places Leisure is a proud partner in the solar panel installation too:

“Working with Elmbridge, we are committed to improving the sustainability of the Xcel. Through the new partnership contract, both Places Leisure and Elmbridge Borough Council, will invest in more energy efficient infrastructure, including new heating systems, hydrogen ready boilers, LED lighting and electric car charging bays. Collectively we will provide more sustainable leisure facilities in Elmbridge.”

The Council team also commented on our working partnership:

“Joju have worked efficiently and collaboratively with all stakeholders involved in the project and they are always on hand to provide professional advice”.

Our Head of Commercial Solar, Edward Baughn, couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome too:

“We’re proud to have designed and installed the solar array on the Xcel, helping Elmbridge Borough Council reduce the carbon output on its buildings. We can’t wait to see more savings being made and supporting the Council with their overall sustainability ambitions”.

All in all, it’s great to know that solar energy is contributing to the operation of a Complex where members spend their own energy improving their health and wellbeing – and that the wellbeing of the whole area is being improved by the reduction in carbon.

Goals well and truly achieved!

Further information

Head here for more about rooftop solar

Discover more about our public sector work

Read more of our case studies

EV CHarging, Alfen, Fast Charger

Dorset Council’s greener travel at zero capital cost

In 2019, Dorset Council was looking to replace a handful of pre-existing rapid chargers and began an open conversation with us about what we could do to offer residents and businesses a cleaner, greener way to travel in Dorset.

The local authority wanted to take steps towards their ambition to become a carbon-neutral Council by 2040 at the latest, with the whole of the county being carbon neutral by 2050. They were also keen to accelerate several actions in their  Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy Action Plan and as part of this, we discussed more widespread electric vehicle charge points in public car parks, supporting the transition to electric vehicles.

Since then, their ambitions have rocketed and we have supported them every charge of the way!

 

Making it feasible

We have several funding approaches we offer, tailored to local authority requirements.

One of those is a fully funded installation and management solution for electric vehicle charge points in public sites, with our funding partners Mer. It’s a great way for local authorities to roll out EV charging infrastructure at zero capital cost and in this case, the first step for us was to carry out a large feasibility study across 115 public car park sites and several Council offices in Dorset.

During the process, full pricing and site designs were put together and we agreed, with Dorset Council, which sites to take forward.

 

Working together to go electric

After several months of planning, conversation and collaboration, we began installing ‘phase one’ of this landmark project, which covers 17 public car parks across the county including Blandford Forum, Dorchester, Gillingham, Lyme Regis, Shaftesbury, Sherborne, Verwood, West Bay, Weymouth and Wimborne Minster.

The fast (22kW) charge points installed are supplied with 100% renewable energy and mean that drivers can charge their electric vehicles while visiting the county’s towns. A quick top-up (a charge of 15 minutes) enables a journey of about 15 miles, or a full charge will take 2-4 hours, depending on the vehicle. All charge points can be accessed through the Mer charging portal and app.

It’s been great working in partnership with the Dorset Council team to make this happen and as they say,

“Working with Joju is a pleasure. Their can-do attitude to problem-solving is refreshing and undoubtedly part of the reason why Dorset’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure programme has been such a success. They have a real understanding of how local authorities work and have demonstrated a genuine willingness to accommodate Dorset’s charging infrastructure needs, for the benefit of both residents and visitors”.

Cllr Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s Portfolio Holder for Highways, Travel and Environment, also commented:

“Dorset has an important role to play in helping to tackle the climate and ecological emergency. The government plans to phase out sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030, so it is important drivers are offered more sustainable travel options now.

We are grateful to Joju Charging and their partners for funding both the installation and management of this scheme and for their enthusiasm and hard work in getting us to this stage.”

 

More rapids, ultras and fasts

We’re excited to currently be rolling out Phase 2 of this project. It covers the install of electric vehicle charge points in approximately another 21 sites around the county and includes new rapid chargers, ultra fast rapids, and more fast chargers too.

Christopher Whitehouse, Transport Project Officer, Economic Growth and Infrastructure, Dorset Council commented:

Dorset Council is now in its fourth year of successfully working with Joju on the delivery of EV Charging Infrastructure, which has helped place the county in the top 20% of local authority areas for charge point availability. Dedication, focus on quality and value, a flexible approach to delivery and excellent customer service has made Joju an easy choice to be Dorset’s installer of choice”. 

The feedback is fantastic to hear.

 

Future installs in Dorset

Dorset Council has also recently been awarded funding through the government’s LEVI (Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure) fund, and it is great to also hear that residents and visitors to Dorset are demanding more charge points.

Here’s to the further roll-out of electric vehicle charging infrastructure to help Dorset move to a low-carbon future, and to make travelling in the county cleaner and greener.

 

Find Out More

On-street in Portsmouth

Portsmouth has narrow streets, limited off-street parking and many houses are without access to a driveway or garage to charge off-street. An air quality directive is also in place, a clean air zone has been introduced, and there is a real need to install charge points based on residential requests. Against that backdrop, it’s been brilliant to work with Portsmouth City Council (PCC) to deliver their on-street charging infrastructure, including Pay-As-You-Go streetlight charging, which is accessed via designated parking bays.

Defining installation locations

As the aim is to give residents the opportunity to charge vehicles outside their homes, consideration was given to which demographic groups were likely to switch to EVs first, and where they live. This was mapped against where the council team knew there was terraced housing, and combined with local knowledge, it created a picture of where the chargers should be installed.

Some residents had also requested charge points. They were interviewed by the Portsmouth team to establish whether there were any parking issues in their area, whether they currently owned an EV, or were planning to buy one, if they had any suggested locations, and what their views on payment expectations were. This engagement with residents has been crucial to the success of the charge point roll-out.

The perfect solution for Portsmouth

Turning to infrastructure, the best solution was to use the streetlight electricity supply, as it is lower cost and doesn’t take up additional space. Adding to the pre-existing 36 on-street chargers already across the city, we’ve installed a further 62 charge points. Nine are in-column chargers, but the majority are bollard chargers because many lamp columns are at the back of the pavement. Bollards are then positioned at the front of the footway but are slimline, so they don’t take up much-needed space.

Designated parking bays have also been created alongside charge points, as feedback from the survey process suggested there could be access issues without them.

PCC is also the first authority to have the combination of lamp columns, parking bays and a Pay-As-You-Go payment option, so together we’ve certainly been leading the on-street charge!

Funding the project and looking to the future

Over £200,000 of funding was secured through the Office for Zero Emissions (OZEV) On Street Residential Charge Point Scheme (ORCS), which allocated 75% of the cost for the infrastructure and installation for phases one and two. The remainder was council- funded.

The scheme has been very successful. It’s won a Transtech award for emobility, and as Councillor Lynne Stagg, Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation puts it,

“We hope that the ability to charge outside your own home will be a great incentive to join the revolution and reduce emissions further”.

And it certainly has been. Resident, Martin Hoy, who uses the charge points says:

“We took a leap of faith buying an electric vehicle, and I wouldn’t go back. We’ve become a one car family with my wife and I sharing the car. When I don’t drive to work I cycle instead. I’ve also taken the car on longer journeys across the country and it’s been easy to use and charge on the go.”

Back in the city, the Portsmouth charge points are being very well used and with almost 200 further charge point requests, the council is looking to grow the network even further. We can’t wait to help them realise their ambitions.

Discover more

Read more case studies about our public sector work

Work in the public sector? Find out how we can help with your EV Infrastructure projects

Helping Hampshire schools go solar!

Hampshire County Council wanted to give as many schools as possible, the opportunity to have solar PV installed on their roofs, for free, as part of an ambitious programme to cut carbon emissions and running costs in public buildings across the county.

In response to the climate emergency and to contribute to net zero targets, schools would benefit from energy generated by the sun to become more energy efficient, and to cut their energy bills at the same time.

Funding the mission

The council received just over two million pounds of interest free funding from Salix Finance to facilitate this particular part of their programme, as part of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Salix offers grant funding on behalf of the Government for energy efficiency and heat decarbonisation projects, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from public sector buildings.

With the mission to create as many ‘solar schools’ as possible, the council carried out a tender process. At the end of 2020, they selected Joju to explore the installation of solar PV on 120 buildings, including a mix of primary and secondary schools. Our team was delighted to get to work to help the council realise their ambition.

Surveys and site installations

We spent several months surveying all the sites ourselves, creating designs, costing each project, and also arranging structural surveys. We gradually ruled out a proportion of the suggested sites because following survey, some of the roofs weren’t suitable for solar panels.

We were left with a remaining 90 sites and the installations began in May 2021. We worked on these over a 12-month period.

One of the key elements of the project was that there was a real mix of buildings and system sizes. A benchmark for primary schools was a relatively small system of around 10kW, and a 50kW benchmark size was set for secondary schools. There were also some large school sites of 115 kW. Additionally, we returned to some of the sites to increase the size of the solar PV system installed.

Due to the volume of sites involved in the project, we also recruited additional support into our teams to help deliver solar to the schools as efficiently as possible.

Solar savings

The solar PV over the 90 schools totals 2.1 MW of installed capacity, with a predicted annual generation of 1800 MWh of green electricity across the portfolio.  This is also predicted to save the buildings a combined 450 tonnes of Co2 per annum.

On average, the schools are using 80-90% of the energy generated and expected savings for the smallest sites are over £1,000 a year. The largest schools are predicted to save over £15,000 a year. These estimated figures were pre-energy price increases, meaning that savings will be even greater currently.

A positive impact

Councillor Jan Warwick, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, said:

“We are putting climate change at the heart of all we do and in this case, delivering both carbon and financial savings for Hampshire’s schools… what is great about this programme in particular is how it is making a positive impact in hundreds of school communities and helping pupils to learn more about this vital issue.”

We second that! The reward for us is not only reducing carbon emissions, but also the learning that undoubtedly comes from the installation of solar on schools – and we’re proud to be part of it.

Discover more

Stuart’s two-staged install

Stuart first got in touch with us back in 2021. He already had an EV charge point and wanted to get the full package for his home. He decided it was time for solar and a battery, so he could generate power and save any excess for when the house needed it.

A waiting game

Due to Tesla Powerwall supply timescales over the last year, we’ve often had to be flexible and take a different approach, splitting installations into two stages… installing solar panels and Powerwall’s separately, depending on kit availability. That’s exactly what happened with Stuart’s project.

Panels first, then Powerwall joins the party!

We installed the solar panels first, earlier this year, so that Stuart could instantly have the benefit of onsite generation without having to wait for the Powerwall. We stripped all the tiles back and installed 20 Sunpower 400 Wp panels, the aesthetically pleasing GSE in-roof mounting system, and an 8.2 kW Fronius inverter.

At the same time, we installed the Tesla Gateway – the control unit for the Powerwall, which helps it disconnect from the grid in a power cut. The Gateway would have to wait a short while to be joined by its partner in power storage, but after six months it was time for the Powerwall battery to take its rightful place!

A happy ending

Some installs are simple. Some have challenges along the way. In Stuart’s case stock was the challenge, but with patience and understanding on Stuart’s side and a flexible approach on ours, we have a very happy customer with a full set of kit, generating and storing clean energy for use exactly when the family needs it.

Discover more

Learn about solar panels for your home and how we choose them

How does a home battery work? Read our explanation

Why’s the Powerwall so popular? Head here to find out

Andy’s heavyweight investment

Our customer, Andy Smith, wanted to be more energy self-sufficient with solar, make financial savings, and he had the fields in which to do it! So, earlier this year we took a trip out to the countryside to see what kind of system might work best for him.

On the ground

Having surveyed the site and chatted with Andy, we selected a ground mount system on a Renusol mounting bay, to give us total flexibly on the location of the install, and because it’s relatively quick to lay down. This is where the first part of the ‘heavyweight’ install comes in too, because the plastic moulded frames aren’t fixed. Instead, they’re weighted down with ballast blocks – 3 tons of them in this case, once we’d completed the calculation. That’s basically 174 breeze blocks we moved into Andy’s field… by hand. It took a little bit of time as you can imagine!

Add to that, 35, 385-watt Qcells panels, totalling 13.475 kWp of solar.

We made this choice because the panel is a good all-rounder, solid, with a great balance of aesthetics and performance. Andy’s were the G9 plus versions too, which came with a 25-year warranty.

Making the connection

To connect everything up, we trenched cable from Andy’s chosen field, underground, and back to the garage where the electrics were situated. Andy had previously installed a conduit system with a rope pulley, so we were able to pull the cables from the field, and it’s a brilliant way to hide a pretty large cable. We also fitted a 12kW three-phase Solis inverter.

A little request

One request was that we spaced the array so that Andy could get his lawnmower between the rows, and we were only too happy to help – always thinking practically. Of course, as the cables are sealed underground, sheep can still graze in between the panels too.

Savings on all fronts

As there are also kennels on site, there’s relatively high-powered usage and that leads us to the final reason you could call this a heavyweight investment. It’s down to the savings Andy makes and the export payments he receives. As Andy’s exporting on all three phases, he gets significant export payments, and the investment made has definitely put the smile of champions on his face!

As Andy tells us:

“The Renusol mounting was definitely the right solution for us, and my spreadsheet tells me that so far, the panels have saved me about £1,090 – about half on electricity that I haven’t had to import, and about half on energy I’ve exported. I know it won’t be like this in Winter, but I think I may well get back the installation cost over four years or less. One of the best investments I have made – thanks”.

Saving money and helping to save the planet… it’s what we’re all about.

Discover more

Find out more about solar PV and choosing the right system

Read more about how we can help your home turn green

Read more of our residential case studies

Mahindra – Racing forward with Workplace Charging

 

Mahindra Racing – the ‘Greenest Team in Motorsport’ – is a founding team competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Formula E is the world’s first, all-electric street racing series and the closest, most competitive, and fastest-growing category in motorsport – but it’s more than just a race on track! It’s also the leading platform to test new technologies, drive development to the production line, and ultimately lead to more electric cars on the road. It helps to alter perceptions and accelerate the switch to electric too, in a bid to counteract the climate crisis and address the effects of air pollution.

Teams with an impeccable pedigree

Mahindra Racing has an impeccable pedigree. The team was crowned 2021’s Climate Champions at the end of the last ABB FIA Formula E season and was the first Formula E team (and only the second motorsport outfit in the world) to receive the top Three-Star FIA Sustainability Accreditation. The team also became the first FIA World Championship entrant to be certified as Net Zero Carbon Footprint from inception, and we were delighted when the business approached our own impeccable team, to help with their workplace charging requirements at their new UK headquarters in Banbury.

Clarifying requirements, technology, and funding

Mahindra wanted to make EV charging available to all staff and visitors, as well as to encourage the uptake of electrical vehicles. The need was an initial 6 chargers to cover current and short to medium term demand, with the view to expanding in future, and one of the reasons they selected Joju was that they also wanted to explore potential for roof top solar for their Banbury site, to help further decrease the carbon footprint of their premises.

At Joju, we are highly experienced in helping our workplace EV charging customers navigate the variety of funding options available. In Mahindra’s case, as the site and business were eligible for the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme, we were able to administer this on their behalf to secure a £350 per socket contribution to the cost of the install.

Also, due to being technology agnostic as a business, we were able to recommend the best solution for the site, as well as for our client’s brand goals. As ABB is the principal sponsor of the Formula E Championship, the link to the product on this commercial site was a natural one. Together we examined the ABB product range and agreed the best products for the application – namely the ABB Terra AC 22kW Wallbox chargers. The ABB back-office solution also provides the perfect functionality for Mahindra Racing to monitor their use.

The installation

We carried out the full turnkey installation including all groundworks, installation of the EV charge points on posts, the electrical installation, testing and commissioning, all to the required client timescales.

We pride ourselves on our dedicated project management, technical expertise and flexibility and for Mahindra, we needed to ensure we connected into the existing electrical infrastructure on site, choosing the correct supply chain partner and making sure this happened at a convenient ‘out of hours’ timeframe for the client.

The reaction

Dilbagh Gill, Team Principal and CEO at Mahinda Racing said,

“We believe that ‘doing good’ goes beyond philanthropy and CSR. It is more than just random acts of kindness. It is a purpose, an attitude, and a way of life. As a team, we are committed to finding credible, advanced and next generation mobility solutions while being kind to the planet. Sustainability is not a buzz word for us; it is ingrained into our ethos and a big part of the reason we are racing in Formula E.

The installation of EV charging points at our facility here in Banbury is yet another step in our journey to drive this change towards electrification and it has been a pleasure to work with Joju, whose reputation and attitude aligns so well with our own passion. We are grateful for their guidance every step of the way, and look forward to their continued support as we continue to grow”.

It’s always great to get this kind of feedback and we look forward to working with Mahindra Racing in the future, to keep their workplace charging goals on track!

 

Discover more

Royal Holloway Charge Points

Going electric at Royal Holloway University

Royal Holloway, University of London, is a pioneering University, steeped in history, yet constantly adapting to the demands of modern higher education.

When it comes to environmental credentials, the University ranked as a top tier University in USwitch’s second annual study into UK universities’ commitment to being green.

As part of their Living Sustainably programme, University researchers also work with partners around the world to investigate the drivers of unsustainable activities. They respond by co-developing innovative solutions for all communities to use resources more sustainably, and to be part of healthy communities. So, when we were appointed to work with the University on its EV infrastructure, we were delighted.

Feasibility and install

After visiting the University and discussing requirements, we conducted a feasibility study to create the best possible EV charging solution for staff, students, fleet vehicles and visitors to site.

The project was funded by the University and after an initial four car parks in the original study, Royal Holloway made the decision to begin with one site. There was an excellent electrical supply to that car park already, which meant we could install four dual socket Alfens, all running at 22kW.

Collaboration

The University needed the installation to be complete for the start of the new September term last year, so we put everything in motion to complete our works in that timescale. More often than not, we carry out all electrical work ourselves but, in this instance, our installation team worked seamlessly with the University’s electrical contractor, overseen by our experienced project managers. Working collaboratively is always something we’re happy to do!

Looking to the future

Dr David Ashton, Deputy Principal (Operations) of Royal Holloway, has said that the University is

“committed to addressing climate change and working hard towards goals such as achieving net zero by 2035”

and it’s brilliant to be part of the sustainability story at Royal Holloway. We hope to install more EV charge points here in the years to come.

Discover more

Read more about our Public EV projects

Check out our work with Schools, Colleges and Universities

Read more about Joju Charging as a portal for Public Sector EV Infrastructure Procurement

Bluelight turning green – Avon Fire and Rescue Service

Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) has 24 fire stations and other service sites around Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. The Service is committed to achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2030 and is determined to do everything it can to increase sustainability.

As part of this, AF&RS has been growing the number of EVs on its fleet – and that means having reliable charge point infrastructure in place too. We were happy to help when the team contacted us through the Central Southern Regional Procurement Framework to carry out a feasibility study into the most effective EV charging solution.

Making it feasible

For us, good electric vehicle charging practice is the provision of the right charger, with the right power, in the right place, with the right payment options, controlled by the right system. Our feasibility studies mean we assess the suitability of all sites in terms of demand, electrical supply and other considerations, and as Annabel Harford, Environmental Manager at AF&RS commented,

“The feasibility study process was very informative and tailored to meet our requirements at every stage”.

Installing the network

Following on from it, we began work on the supply and installation of the estate-wide EV charging network, with ‘Phase 1’ including 14 sites. With all chargers being building connected, we took into account the available power from each, installing a mix of 22kW and 7kW Alfen dual socketed chargers, meaning at least two vehicles can charge at any one time.

The electricity used to charge the vehicles is 100% renewable as all AF&RS sites are currently supplied with 100% green energy.  As well as fleet vehicles, employees are able to use these points too with an EV staff salary sacrifice scheme providing an added incentive.

Looking to the future

And there’s more! As well as the maintenance and ongoing back-office provision for the existing charge points (with our partners Mer), we’ll be installing ‘Phase 2’ next year which will include a further 10 sites.

EVs will play a major part in helping AF&RS reach the targets in the organisation’s Environmental Strategy and we are delighted to contribute to the realisation of the bluelight turning green!

Annabel Harford commented:

“We’ve been really pleased with how the first Phase has gone and have enjoyed working with the team at Joju. They are all very helpful, friendly and have helped resolve issues efficiently. With EV charge points now installed at half of our sites, we look forward to Phase 2 for all our remaining sites”.

 

Discover more

Check out our work with Surrey and Sussex Police

Read more Public Sector EV Case Studies

Find out more about our approach to Public Sector EV Charging