Dundee’s commitment to innovation goes beyond technology.
Inclusive Innovation
Dundee’s commitment to innovation goes beyond technology. Innovation can make tangible changes that positively impact people's everyday lives, but one of the main issues in the electric vehicle industry at the moment is accessibility.
As councils rush to install public chargers and hubs to meet the government’s 2035 EV targets, people with disabilities are often overlooked. For example, a recent study by Vauxhall revealed that only 2% of on-street electric vehicle chargers meet current accessibility standards.
For this reason, inclusion weaves into every advancement made in Dundee, guided by rigorous standards laid out by the British Standards Institution (BSI).
The design of Dundee's new public EV charging hub... is a blueprint for the future service station.
World first
The design of Dundee’s new public EV charging hub at Clepington Road, featuring a bank of five accessible rapid 50kW chargers and a single 150kW ultra-rapid charger, is a blueprint for the future service station.
In a world first for an EV charging location, the site also features rainwater harvesting technology by leading water purification company, Bluewater. Rainwater is captured from the canopy roof and filtered into a purifying machine so that EV drivers can refill water bottles with fresh drinking water, or top up their windscreen washers. This system significantly reduces reliance on single-use plastics commonly found at petrol or service stations.
Industry leaders SWARCO, Connected Energy, and Envevo were also consulted on a solar canopy system that charges old electric vehicle batteries. This ‘second life’ battery system captures excess solar and charges from the grid at off-peak times when tariffs are cheaper, and electricity is less carbon intensive.
Accessibility was a priority at every stage. The hub was designed in conjunction with disability charities and, crucially, disabled drivers. All bays are 3.6m wide and 6m long, surrounded by unobstructed pathways with level access, allowing for ease of manoeuvrability.
Eighteen app-controlled pop-up UEone chargers now have a permanent home across nine sites in the city.
Pop-up chargers
Earlier this year Dundee welcomed yet more ground-breaking innovation as Urban Fox, which offers an end-to-end solution to near-home EV charging infrastructure, unveiled their UEone, Europe's first fully retractable EV charger. Eighteen app-controlled pop-up UEone chargers now have a permanent home across nine sites in the city, ensuring on-street EV charging for years to come.
With venues such as the V&A Dundee, Caird Hall, and Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort, Dundee is a perfect destination for events of all kinds.
Future city and business events in Dundee
Through a seamless combination of pioneering technology and a commitment to accessibility, Dundee is creating a sustainable and inclusive future for generations to come and setting a standard that is unparalleled within the landscape of the UK’s EV infrastructure.
Dundee is a dynamic, compact and modern city which is rich in science, discovery, culture, art and journalism. With venues such as the V&A Dundee, Caird Hall, and Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort, Dundee is a perfect destination for events of all kinds. Sustainability continues to be an important issue for planners, especially those from the UK and Europe, when selecting business events destinations.
With its advancements in sustainable transport and technology, Dundee is an ideal choice for event planners wishing to integrate sustainability into their events.
