NHS Scotland opens solar-powered EV charging hub

A solar-powered electric vehicle charging hub has been created for NHS Scotland at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.

The Papilio3 pop-up solar car park provides hospital users with access to 12 charging points boosted by renewable energy.

The system will support destination and workplace EV charging at the hospital, which has a fleet of EVs already in operation. It will also meet a growing demand for EV charging at a destination where long dwell times are common.

The solar car park has been designed, installed and funded by 3ti, which will operate the facility.

Brian Johnstone, head of energy, environment and sustainability at NHS Highland, said: “As part of our commitment to supporting the delivery of healthcare in the future, we understand that our environmental responsibilities go beyond our own services. As an organisation, we are looking to develop innovative ways to harness electricity and utilise renewable energy on-site which Papilio3 is a great example of.

“With the introduction of Papilio3, NHS Highland is now in better positioned to support patients, staff and visitors with EVs at Raigmore. We hope that this investment in EV infrastructure helps to convince others to make the switch over to zero-emission vehicles.”

The Papilio3 system is built around a recycled shipping container and can be installed in under eight hours. 3ti said it can be easily transported and set up almost anywhere in the world, making it the perfect solution for one of the most Northernly located hospitals in the UK.

With a solar capacity of 19.32kWp, the installed Papilio3 will generate on average 18MWh of electricity annually – which equates to over 63,000 miles of EV range - and can fast charge up to 12 EVs simultaneously at 7, 11 or 22kW.

Papilio3 is available from 3ti on a rental contract it requires no capital investment by customers.

Shaun Wightman-Smith, business development manager at 3ti, said: “We are proud to deliver another Papilio3, adding to our growing portfolio of applications, this time in the Scottish Highlands. The location of our latest installation showcases the impressive capability of our innovative solar car park, which is designed to provide EV charging infrastructure and reduce grid dependency to a range of facilities in different locations in the UK.”