Case Study: EV Charging for Cherry Tree Primary School
Customer: Cherry Tree Primary School, Basildon, Essex.
Project Outline
The school sought expert advice and support to best utilise existing Government Grant Funding for State-Funded Educational Establishments. The objective was to install a 2-unit EV charge point facility to support staff and transition towards more sustainable transport options.
The Approach
Hydra EVC provided a comprehensive, free consultation to discuss the school’s current and future requirements. A key focus was understanding how the school intended to manage operational expenses and electricity costs.
We introduced Telice Electrical—our local Hydra Approved Installer—to undertake a professional site survey. This assessment was crucial to evaluate available power capacity and determine the most cost-effective charge point positions for the installation.
Recommendations
- Cost-Efficient Hardware: Since the school preferred to charge staff a fixed annual fee rather than sub-billing per session, we recommended domestic chargers over commercial models to reduce initial capital expenditure.
- Smart Load Management: By utilising the domestic chargers’ load balancing option paired with inexpensive CT clamps, we designed a 3-charge point facility using the existing power supply. This was tailored to the typical staff EVs, which generally feature 7kW or 11kW battery capacities.
- Secure Access: To ensure the facility remains secure and restricted to authorised personnel, we recommended the Hydra Notus domestic charger, which includes free RFID key fobs for easy operational control.
The Outcome
- Future-Proofed Infrastructure: The school opted for the 3 x 7kW charge point solution, providing a 50% increase in charging capacity compared to the original plan.
- Maximised Funding: The addition of the third charge point allowed the school to access additional Government Funding, making the expanded system highly affordable.
- Expert Delivery: As an OZEV Certified installer, Telice Electrical handled the Government Grant Funding voucher process entirely, ensuring a seamless and cost-effective project.
- Local Coordination: Working with a local qualified installer allowed us to complete the installation during the February Half-Term break, avoiding any disruption to the school day and ensuring a smooth delivery.
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