Overview of our achievements in 2023 

2023 saw a huge step forward in the uptake of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Dundee City Council. Among the many achievements within the electrification industry, Dundee was once again recognised globally as a city of EV innovation and many local authorities, both within and outside the UK, draw on the solutions introduced by our Council.  

Currently, Dundee City Council has 246 electric vehicles in its Fleet, which equals to around 30% of all Fleet vehicles. The rate of electrification set by Dundee is quite impressive. With close to 400 charge points in Dundee, 195 charge points are owned by the Council. We now hold four rapid charging hubs, three multi-storey car park charging hubs and a large number of on-street chargers across the city. Furthermore, the private sector of the EV charging infrastructure is continuously expanding its network in Dundee, which is a sign of the growing demand for electric vehicle chargers in the city. 

Read about our projects from 2023 below! 

The Charging Oasis 

One of the most significant achievements of 2023 was the opening of the 4th rapid charging hub in Dundee. The hub built on Clepington Road, also called ‘the Charging Oasis’, has been a popular addition to the city since it first opened in April 2023. Funding for this charging hub came from ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles), Transport Scotland and Dundee City Council. The hub is especially relevant to the local community, as it provides five accessible 50kW rapid and a single 150kW ultra-rapid charger that can be used by drivers who require additional support. 

The Council believes that to deliver equitable access to EV charging infrastructure, all EV charge points should be designed to be as accessible as possible. This site's design is ground-breaking in its accessibility approach, and we believe it goes further than any other hub in the UK in ensuring accessibility. The features were designed in consultation with people with a disability, charities and manufacturers, ensuring that accessibility was considered at all points. 

Additional features include solutions designed to accommodate easier charging, such as: 

• All bays are an accessible size of 3.6m wide and 6m long 

• No kerbs preventing access to charge points 

• Charge points are not on raised plinths 

• Removal of bollards from around charge points 

• The use of colour contrasting wheelstops in the bay to prevent vehicles from encroaching on the space around the charge points and ensuring safe access routes 

• Improved shelter 

• Level access to and from the site 

• Charge point cables are marked with contrasting colours to improve visibility and reduce trip hazards 

• Longer cables to meet a wider variety of charge port locations 

• Cable retention systems take some of the weight of the cables and remove trip hazard of cables on the ground 

• Well-lit site in an area with high levels of footfall, increasing safety and confidence for vulnerable users. 

The Charging Oasis features solar canopies above the charge points that also incorporate a pioneering rainwater harvesting system. Designed and manufactured by Bluewater, the system allows for rainwater to be collected from the solar canopies and treated by advanced purifying technology solutions. Water is stored in the 5,000-litre underground tank and free drinking water is dispensed through the two water stations on the site. These stations also act as advertising screens and are another way for the Council to keep visitors updated on the latest and upcoming projects. This unique addition is a first for Dundee (and the UK) and we hope that similar water dispensers can be incorporated into future projects across the city.  

In September 2023, we were delighted to host a visit from HRH the Duke of Gloucester. Accompanied by Dr Joe Morrow, the Duke met the project team from Dundee City Council and project contractors from SWARCO, Bluewater, Urban Foresight, Envevo and Connected Energy to learn about the state-of-the-art facility before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visit. 

Clepington Road Construction Depot 

Dundee City Council’s Construction Depot is located on the same site as the Charging Oasis, as it was important for the Council that these two projects are linked together. The Depot was a former coal storage for the railway and had been the main fuelling depot for petrol, diesel and gas oil vehicles. It had also traditionally acted as a fuelling location to provide extra resilience for the ambulance service.  

To meet the aims set to convert all vehicles to electric, Dundee City Council chose to remove all the fuel tanks and contaminated soil from the site and make a complete switch to electric by adding a second-life battery storage system and a substation which are shared between the two sites. As a result, the Clepington Road Depot has played a major part in the cost-cutting strategy. This transition further highlights the Council’s pledge to move over to electric vehicles.   

The Depot has newly installed electric vehicle charge points with solar canopies which generate power to take pressure off the grid. When the sun is not shining, energy is drawn from the second-life battery storage solution.  Fleet vehicles can charge overnight and during the weekends with the 25 x 7kW chargers and are ready to operate in the morning. The 2 x 50kW and one 100kW rapid chargers are also available for topping up during breaks. 

Currently, the Depot facilitates our depot vehicles that can make use of the 28 charge points available on the site. This is enough capacity to charge 200 electric vans for the construction department. It is important that depot vans have enough charge, as the type of work these vehicles are used for (electrician, plumbing, etc.) involves the public and therefore, is done across the city, often within the recently proposed Low Emission Zone. 

Following the guidelines set out by the Dundee City Council Air Quality Action Plan published in 2011 and the Dundee Action Plan in 2019, Dundee’s Low Emission Zone was first introduced in the city on 30 May 2022 to accelerate Dundee’s air quality improvement and emissions reduction objectives further. Enforcement of this scheme will take place starting on 30 May 2024.  

Marchbanks Solar 

Photovoltaics were used to incorporate renewables into day-to-day operations at the Marchbanks workshop. The 118kWp PV system is located on both sides of the Marchbanks Depot’s rooftop and is connected to the workshop’s electrical distribution board. The solar panels generate energy that is stored in the second-life battery storage and can fuel the workshop’s operations, e.g. mechanic work. Currently, 10 of 15 mechanics working at the Marchbanks workshop are trained to test and repair electric vehicles, of which the Fleet has 246. This number also includes 8 refuse collection vehicles. As a result, a high percentage of our workshop-related activities are powered by renewables.  

Power Flexibility through Energy Storage 

Dundee Council are continuing to work towards their net zero plan. The Council’s Net Zero Transition Plan 2024-2030 highlights the need to reduce emissions across many sectors within the organisation. Apart from the plans for decarbonisation of the Fleet, the Council emphasises the need for advancing energy efficiency through better energy management which will also provide power flexibility for the Council. 

Following this plan, Dundee City Council is dedicated to easing the pressure on the grid. Besides the installing of photovoltaics at 3 out of 4 rapid charging hubs and all its charging hubs at multi-storey car parks, battery storage systems were also incorporated into two developments completed in 2023. The solar generated from the photovoltaics located on top of the Marchbanks workshop rooftop and at the Clepington Road hub feeds into the battery storage systems built at the sites.  

The two 400kW energy storage units at Clepington Road supplied by Connected Energy house batteries from old EVs that can no longer reach full charge, however, they are still able to use 75-80% of their original capacity and give them a second life. The energy can then be used at the most advantageous time, for example when the grid electricity is more expensive or when charging hubs are in high demand. Combined, the two battery units can store 800kw – enough to power 16 of the council’s electric vans. 

The Marchbanks workshop rooftop solar panels are particularly significant for day-to-day services, as they fuel workshop activities and feed charge points used for Fleet vehicles including bin lorries. StorTera supplied an energy storage unit with the power capacity of 200kW and energy capacity of 300kWh. This allows for up to 1.5 hours of full power capacity and could be used to fully charge all vehicles at the site, provide power to the building and/or grid services daily. It is estimated that approximately 88% of the annual generation is consumed by the site loads and around 12% exported. 

Awards Won 

In 2023, Dundee City Council’s efforts to enhance low carbon projects and strategies within the city were acknowledged multiple times by the industry. 

The Council’s hard work was recognised at the annual Fleet Vision International Awards where the Fleet received the “Public Sector Best Fleet Management Strategy” award. The Council’s exceptional leadership can be seen in the efforts to improve across several areas. For instance, the complex strategy to lower emissions within the organisation by the Fleet includes introducing EVs into the carpool system and expanding the bike scheme by adding electric bikes to the pool. The Fleet also incorporates a GIS routing system to manage mileage covered by larger vehicles. This award also recognised the latest developments in the Council’s EV charging infrastructure, such as the opening of an accessible charging hub on Clepington Road. 

At the same awards ceremony, the Corporate Fleet Manager of Dundee City Council was also awarded “Public Sector Industry Personality of the Year” for his outstanding enthusiasm and exceptional results that positively influenced the Council’s Fleet sector, which ultimately, improved service to the public. His management of EV infrastructure has helped residents move to electric vehicles and the deployment of renewable energy solutions has become a new standard in charging hubs and other Fleet projects.  

These huge achievements were later followed by another recognition at the recent Electric Vehicle Innovation and Excellence Awards. On this occasion, Dundee City Council was named “Public Transport Authority of the Year” for outstanding records in managing EV uptake and adoption, its EV infrastructure track record, engagement with consumers and the EV industry, and the investments the Council has made into the space.  

Future Plans 

This year will see the EV charging network expand, as the start of a redevelopment project is planned to be carried out on a dated multi-storey car park on West Bell Street. The car park will be transformed into a sustainable transport hub, creating more electric vehicle charging points, car share spaces, bicycle storage and a rental scheme. The entire roof of the multi-storey will be fitted with solar panels. These extensive plans will be realised through the UK Government’s flagship Levelling Up Fund. 

Our main aim for future projects is to ensure that electric vehicle charging infrastructure is easily accessible so that more drivers are encouraged to switch to electric. Furthermore, our projects focus on enhancing the use of renewable energy and moving away from the grid.