EV sustainable transport

 EV Transport and Equipment

 

As we transition to energy production and security at PCHub, we need to develop a strategy for local sustainable transport. Previously, Falkirk District Council had minibuses available, with the keys collected from the caretaker. These vans and minibuses were parked at the front of the community center. When the council removed these minibuses and their keys to another council-owned business before we took over, (they still retained the local carers' fleet car at the hub). Falkirk District Council now has a fleet electrification policy that does not include PCHub.

 

Transport and energy can be integrated to help accelerate the decarbonization of bikes, cars, minibuses, and trams across first, second, and third-party sectors. We aim to be pioneers in this effort within the Falkirk East district, facilitating collaboration among all community assets in Falkirk East and the local development trust, with initiatives involving EV cycles, all-terrain quads, and community minibuses.

 

Projects and initiatives for community heating, powered equipment, and transport decarbonization are already being developed. We need funding and support to push these initiatives past the planning stage. We have outlined the breadth of the challenges we face, focusing on actionable and collaborative solutions that can be implemented now. Energy production, management, and saving should be viewed not as barriers to decarbonization but as opportunities for communities.

 

In 2020, the British government announced a significant step towards net-zero carbon emissions by ending the sales of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. All vehicles will transition to plug-in electric vehicles, which will require charging points. Quick chargers are already available at petrol stations and supermarkets. We aim to integrate our community hub's power generation with these local charge points using affordable green energy.

 

We have ample space at the hub to install solar panels. Our goal is to implement a community solar project that allows for group-buying savings on solar panels, batteries, and installation services. In addition to solar panels, we plan to install solar batteries to reduce our reliance on grid power. Energy security is vital, especially during extreme weather events. We currently have an Emergency Power Supply (EPS) system in place to ensure that our security lights and fire detection systems remain operational during power cuts, a need we identified after the power outage experienced at the recent storm.

 

The area designated for hub charge points still needs thorough planning. All vehicles will require secure parking, battery storage, and a power management control system that integrates with the hub. We envision that the ideal location is along the front of the hub, as it is already paved and easily connected to the mains electricity.

 

We are planning a solar-powered cycle shelter and EV charge area, which will be a game-changer for e-bike, e-scooter, and mobility scooter enthusiasts or owners visiting the hub. No longer will they need to search for charging stations or worry about running out of battery during their commutes. The new shelter will be equipped with built-in solar panels that generate energy to keep our e-bike and EV fleet fully charged, all utilising a simple and practical design.

 

Our aim is to provide the freedom of solar-powered, off-grid charging, combined with the peace of mind that comes from a secure storage solution, making it the perfect accessory to our community transport initiatives.

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these are not expensive

Environmental and Economic Impact

 

Approximately 60% of journeys made in the UK are shorter than 5 miles, and an average e-bike can travel 60 miles on just 1 kWh of energy. A solar-charging e-bike charger shelter can provide a significant amount of this sustainable energy to staff and visitors, leading to a measurable reduction in CO2 emissions for our organisation.

 

An innovative cycle shelter design would be an ideal solution for our community hub, possibly linking it with shelters at the train station, local schools, and the health center car park. This will streamline the process of providing secure, on-the-go cycle parking alongside a solar-powered, off-grid e-bike charging solution.

 

Features and Benefits of the planned Solar-Charge Shelters

 

- Solar, off-grid panels charge your e-bike while it is parked.

- Free energy with no tariffs.

- Accommodates both e-bikes and e-scooters.

- shelters can be made requiring No additional groundworks.

- Simple and effective weatherproof cycle shelter design.

- Security lockers available for overnight storage.

 

We aim to establish several Solar-Charge areas utilizing highly efficient, half-cell, and cadmium-free monocrystalline bendable solar panels.

 

Additionally, there is a range of electric all-terrain vehicles designed for work, adventure, and recreational use. We intend to operate a selection of zero-emission electric 2WD and 4WD UTVs, available for our community volunteers and groups. These vehicles could come with various accessories for tasks such as gritting and snow plowing during extreme winter conditions, delivering water on trailers during droughts, and performing ground maintenance tasks like tree clearances. These accessories will be integrated into our tool library, supporting share-and-repair circular economy initiatives, and will cater to the needs of different groups or individuals with mobility issues. The cost of purchasing one of these UTVs can range from £13,000 to £25,000.