[Thomas Evans]

Good morning all,

Currently writing a bid to Welsh Government for them to try and fund a Rapid Charging hub at Cross Hands, Carmarthenshire just off the A48 and near to Starbucks, Aldi, McDonalds etc.
The hub will initially consist of:

• 4 x 50kW Rapid Chargers
• 1 x 150kW Ultra Rapid Charger

If this is something you would like to see please write an email of support that I can use as an evidence base attached to the bid. Email is [email protected]

Kind Regards,
Tom

 

[Garydlb]

This is the best news I have heard for some time.
Will send an email later to you.
West Wales is woefully short of rapid chargers.
Often though Crosshands is an ideal spot for multiple rapids.

 

[Hugh Mungus]

More good news.
A project to install 150 on-street charging points in Lancashire is nearing completion. Lancashire County Council say that EV drivers will be able to plug in at "most" of the County's town centres. And last week saw the opening of a charging "super hub" at the Park and Ride near Junction 34 of the M6 at Lancaster. The chargers are a mix of both 7kw and 50kw. Details in my local rag are somewhat sketchy, but perhaps there may be more information available from Lancashire CC?

 

[Hugh Mungus]

Further to my post above, more details here..... EV charging hub to be installed in Lancashire - Polar Plus

 

[Kingpleb1]

Personally i would say youd be better with 2x 150kw units and 2x 50kw with some 7kw posts on freevend for those that are there for meals and just after a topup for the 1-3hrs they are there.

Just my thinking on it but having it near those services is a big boon. Also a small toilet unit thats open 24/7 if there isn't a 24/7 accessible one.
Nice big bays as well please of disabled size for each unit and for the 50kw units please at least 1 that can share between AC/DC power

 

[Hugh Mungus]

Sure, 150kw chargers would be ideal Kingpleb, but we're pretty much at the mercy of those whom supply and install the infrastructure. We can only use what they install (or not of course).

 

[Kingpleb1]

Very true but it's worth pushing for it or even the likes of Alfapower as at least they are 100kw then

 

[Hugh Mungus]

I think market forces may eventually dictate that faster chargers become the norm, although it isn't going to be speedy process. We'll see in time..........

 

[Thomas Evans]

I honestly thought there would be more interest/support for this idea.

I'm currently going back to Welsh Government with 0 letters of support that users would like to see more rapid charging points in West Wales.

 

[Hilltop Dave]

@Thomas Evans, I know this is not your neck of the woods, but before I can get to use a Rapid charging point at Crosshands, I would need one at Builth Wells. Also, coming down the A483 / A40 I am more likely to be heading for Carmarthen and the Nant-y-Ci Park & Ride, or for the M4 with the EH charging point at Pont Abraham than for a charging point at Crosshands.

 

[halcyonrichard]

I honestly thought there would be more interest/support for this idea.

I'm currently going back to Welsh Government with 0 letters of support that users would like to see more rapid charging points in West Wales.

Have you spoken to Instavolt ? they will install for free and pay rent.

For site owners & partner landlords | Instavolt

We install rapid DC electric vehicle chargers for free, and we’ll even pay our partner-landlords a rental income for allowing us to place our rapid chargers on their site, in addition to the following benefits.

instavolt.co.uk

There may be others as well.

 

[Thomas Evans]

Have you spoken to Instavolt ? they will install for free and pay rent.

For site owners & partner landlords | Instavolt

We install rapid DC electric vehicle chargers for free, and we’ll even pay our partner-landlords a rental income for allowing us to place our rapid chargers on their site, in addition to the following benefits.

instavolt.co.uk

There may be others as well.

Therein lies the problem. We have to adhere to procurement rules and would not simply be able to give directly to one company. This would require an exercise via Sell2Wales and we would effectively be passing on a prime site which could provide an income stream.

@Thomas Evans, I know this is not your neck of the woods, but before I can get to use a Rapid charging point at Crosshands, I would need one at Builth Wells. Also, coming down the A483 / A40 I am more likely to be heading for Carmarthen and the Nant-y-Ci Park & Ride, or for the M4 with the EH charging point at Pont Abraham than for a charging point at Crosshands.

In response to this we are trying to create a network of chargers throughout Carmarthenshire that house more than one charger (to improve reliability). The Cross Hands hub would be adjacent to shops and other facilities such as toilets (one of the criticisms for other sites).

 

[Alexa]

We have to adhere to procurement rules and would not simply be able to give directly to one company.

Approach a number of companies and get them to provide proposed solutions, some of these: Instavolt, Engenie, Alfapower, Geniepoint (Engie), BP Chargemaster, Pod-Point. You probably the find the first 3 will be very eager.

 

[David Ward]

I know this is not your neck of the woods, but before I can get to use a Rapid charging point at Crosshands, I would need one at Builth Wells. Also, coming down the A483 / A40 I am more likely to be heading for Carmarthen and the Nant-y-Ci Park & Ride, or for the M4 with the EH charging point at Pont Abraham than for a charging point at Crosshands.

Dave - that misses the point a bit. May not be entirely where you would need a rapid charge - and I agree with you entirely about Builth Wells, but that's not in Carmarthenshire, for which Thomas works. You must surely support the principle, and could make the point that parts of Wales area a desert for rapid charging. Send him a supportive e-mail!

 

[Thomas Evans]

Please note I was successful with the bid for funding and we will be moving ahead with the procurement, design and installation over the coming months.
The hub will be in and operational before the end of March 2021.

 

[Garydlb]

That is great news Thomas
I’m sure it was hard work to get it through.

 

[Thomas Evans]

Hi all,

I've posted this in another thread but it's also relevant here.Haven't been online for a while and have let things slide in terms of providing an update!

Obviously the pandemic delayed the completion and switch on of our fast charging network across the county but the units are now live:

1. Friars Park, Carmarthen
2. John Street, Carmarthen
3. St Peters, Carmarthen
4. Eastgate, Llanelli
5. Murray St, Llanelli
6. Woodfield Road, Llandybie
7. Crescent Road, Llandeilo
8. Lansteffan Beach, Llansteffan
9. Pentre Road, St Clears
10. Kind Edward St, Whitland
11. Harbour West, Burry Port
12. Heol-y-Neuadd, Tumble
13. Heol-y-Parc, Pontyberem
14. Bowls Pavillion, Garnant
15. Gwenlliam Centre, Kidwelly

The remaining chargers will hopefully be live and registered on the NCR before the end of September. Units are operated by Clenergy EV so will require app or RFID to use.

In additional exciting news we went out to tender for the Cross Hands Rapid Charging Hub with submissions due back 10th Sep. Really looking forward to seeing what companies put forward. This will then require planning permission with construction estimated to start in January and the hub live from the end of March 2021.
We are also seeking to allow residents to charge their EVs by trailing cables over footway as long as they have a relevant protector - I'm working on that legislation now.

 

[1634 Racine]

@Thomas Evans

Where can I get a copy of the tender documents please?

 

[Thomas Evans]

Construction is underway - Please note this was taken earlier this week. On course for April opening after some issues!

Below render on what it will look like:

 

[Bill N]

Looks excellent, well done. I salute your hard work and effort.

On the apparent slight lack of interest in this thread and the project, my suspicion is this could be because there maybe aren’t too many people on here with EVs who live in the area, and that those of us who do like to visit Wales find that we are able to generally get around fairly well as it is, until we venture into mid-Wales. For example, I see there are some Instavolt units in Carmarthenshire already which visitors to west Wales probably make good use of. If they weren’t there, I’m sure there’d be a lot more interest and vocal support for this project.

It’d be great if something similar could happen in mid-Wales, where up to now at least, the likes of Instavolt haven’t yet made it!