Utilising old EV batteries to charge new electric vehicles

North Tyneside Council’s Killingworth site depot is the scene of a new energy eco-system, which uses a solar PV array, battery energy storage system, and chargepoints to support its electric fleet. We speak to Ian Lillie, the Council’s strategic facilities manager, for more details on the project

North Tyneside Council has embarked on a project to futureproof its Killingworth Site depot for sustainability and energy efficiency.

The depot – which is home to around 1,000 council staff and partners – now includes a solar PV array and car ports delivering 700 kilowatts at peak generating around 600,00kW/h of electricity per annum.

What’s more, batteries taken from end-of-life electric vehicles are repurposed as a battery energy storage system (BESS) to support the council’s EV fleet. The BESS collects and stores the excess solar energy, which allows the council to charge its EV fleet at night through its newly installed chargepoints.

Ian Lillie, strategic facilities manager for North Tyneside Council, explains more about the project.

Firstly, please could you give us an overview of the EV charging project you have completed at your Killingworth depot?

The EV chargepoint installation is part of a multimillion-pound council investment to refurbish its main operational depot in Killingworth. This refurbishment was supported with grant funding from the European Regional Development Fund which allowed a number of energy efficiency, generation and storage initiatives including solar PV, battery storage, LED lighting and EV charging.

Why was it decided to approach EV charging in this way and what challenges does it address?

We approached the installation of the EV charging as an integral part of the micro-grid element of the project which aims to deliver optimum energy demand, generation, and storage solutions. The project addresses space underutilisation, energy efficiency and the need to create infrastructure to align to council policy and our net zero ambitions.

The project has delivered 66 charge points in total with a number of these for dedicated use by the council electric operational fleet vehicles, which to this point were being charged through mains three-pin sockets.

It’s an innovative project involving many different organisations – what were the challenges whilst setting up the project?

The project offered many challenges. First and foremost, the site is a live operational depot and all works had to be undertaken to mitigate impact on service delivery.

The site also consists of two Grade 2 listed buildings and was also supported by ERDF grant funding. It was keenly and robustly overseen by the council’s elected mayor and senior leadership team and has delivered improved working conditions for around 1,000 council and partner staff.

The substantive part of the project was also delivered during the covid 19 pandemic which stretched the project delivery chain on many fronts.

Are you realising any cost and CO2 savings yet – or what are these predicted to be?

We have begun to measure the various cashable and non-cashable savings and overall, the project has reduced the council’s energy demand from the grid by around 2.5Million Kw/h and will result in CO2 savings of around 700t. The EV charge points have only been live for around a week [at the time of writing] and so far, they have offset CO2 equivalent to 18 trees being planted and over 1,000 plane miles.

What advice would you give to other public sector organisations looking to set up a similar EV charging system?

Speak to organisations who have delivered similar schemes and wherever possible consider EV charging in parallel with Solar PV and Battery Storage. Be strong on your specification and know your market. L my.northtyneside.gov.uk

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