Overview

Voco Hotels leading brand that offers unique character and style, committed to customer service and sustainability, engaged Zolb EV and their installation contractors EVlution for the fully funded installation of electric vehicle charge points at the Oxford Spires Hotel. To support the hotels pledge to “play host and make sure you have everything you need”, they sought a reliable and efficient charging solution for their customers.

Our Solution

After thoroughly understanding the needs of the Hotel, Zolb EV engaged with EVlution to develop their fully funded solution that me the hotels needs while balancing the limited spare electrical capacity available. As many customers spend the night at the Hotel with others attending business conferences and weddings, dwell time (time parked at the location) was estimated as a norm of between 6 and 48 hrs. Due to the limited spare electricity capacity available, the best solution was to install one duel 22kW AC Alfen fast charger, load limited via Virta’s platform to 8kW per socket. This solution not only me the needs of the limited power supply but also kept the charger under the regulatory requirements for chip and pin payments, reducing the cost for EVlutions client Zolb EV.

The supply equipment was installed with future proofing in mind to allow 22kW charging if the hotel is able to reduce its electrical load in the future via solar panels.

“I am delighted to share my experience working with Zolb EV and EVlution on the installation of EV chargers at Voco Spires hotel in Oxford. From the initial consultation to the final installation, EVlution demonstrated professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction.
Throughout the project, the team at was incredibly responsive and proactive, addressing any questions or concerns I had promptly. Their knowledge of EV charging infrastructure was evident, and they provided valuable insights to ensure that the installation met our specific needs and requirements”.

Stuart Cutts, Voco Oxford Spires

Infrastructure grant

The main objective of this program is to expedite the adoption of electric chargepoints among individuals residing in flats, rental properties, apartment blocks, and commercially leased premises.

Funding has been secured until March 31, 2025. The government may decide to terminate or modify the grant program. In such cases, the government will strive to give a 4-week notice and will still honor claims that meet the grant criteria and were submitted before any official announcement.

Make sure to finish any required upgrades to the building’s electrical supply before submitting your application.

Additionally, it’s crucial to schedule regular maintenance checks for the chargepoints to ensure their optimal performance.

Don’t forget to determine how the electricity and running costs will be covered and ensure that the chargepoints are easily accessible.

Lastly, remember to update your property’s risk assessment to include the newly installed chargepoints.

To apply for the grant you need to:

  • Create a landlord account on the OZEV grant portal.
  • Find a chargepoint installer approved by OZEV.

Make sure to submit individual applications for residential and commercial properties. You have the option to apply for several sockets within a single location.
If you are working with multiple installers or requesting services for different addresses, remember to fill out a distinct application for each one.

Once the work is finished, the installer will handle your claim via the portal. Only approved installers have access to the portal with their own login credentials.

They will provide OZEV with information about your chargepoint, installation photos, and an invoice. OZEV will send you an email prompting you to log into your online account and review the claim.

If there are any discrepancies, you will have a week to address them – instructions will be provided when you review the claim. If no action is taken, the claim will be sent to OZEV as is. Upon approval from OZEV, the grant will be transferred to your installer, who will deduct the amount from your bill. Your invoice will reflect the total installation cost after subtracting the grant amount.

Check out the link below to access the official GOV page and fill out the application form directly.

Electric vehicle chargepoint and infrastructure grants for landlords – GOV-UK Find a grant (find-government-grants.service.gov.uk)

KEY FEATURES OF ALFEN EVE PRO DOUBLE – ALFENS FLAGSHIP FOR SMART SOLUTIONS

The Eve Double Pro-line is Alfen’s flagship smart solution for the semi-public environment such as businesses, supermarkets and hotels. Its rugged case is designed for high usage and regular user changeovers and can be wall or pole mounted. It houses two sockets, with optional load balancing across both.

  1. Charging capacity of 3.7kW to 22kW.
  2. Equipped with two sockets.
  3. European A-quality: a solid and premium product.
  4. Complies with all relevant standards including IEC 61851:2017 – IEC 61851:2017 and has RCDs that protect against leakage currents
  5. Dynamic load balancing enabled due to co-operation with smart meters (DSMR) or external energy meters (Modbus TCP/IP)

INSTALLATION PROCESS

The installation and commissioning process involved collaboration between Zolb EV, Virta, the Hotel and the EVlution certified installation team. The following steps were undertaken:

  1. Site Assessment: A thorough assessment of the charging site was conducted to determine the optimal location for the charger and to ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards, power availability and cost of installation works.
  2. Electrical, Mechanical Civil and layout designs.
  3. Production of Programme, RAMS and Safe Systems of work.
  4. Installation of a new electricity distribution equipment including breakers, supply cable, earth rod.
  5. Charger bases, trench and ductwork.
  6. Charger Installation.
  7. EV charging ground and bay marking.
  8. Integration with Virta’s back-office: The chargers were integrated with back-office, allowing for load limiting to 8kW per socket, seamless payment, monitoring, control and management reporting of charging activities.
  9. Training and Handover.