The forward-thinking local authority has added EV charging points to power its current fleet of nine electric vehicles that are used by its Building Services Department. These vehicles are highly visible around the borough and are used by plumbers and gas fitters on behalf of the council.
The next stage of Darlington Borough Council’s plan is to update its 250-vehicle fleet to EV power – proven to be more cost effective and beneficial to the environment than diesel or petrol-powered vehicles.
innogy eMobility UK was selected to supply the charging network hardware and software that is needed to keep the new EV vehicles on the move.
It collaborated with Darlington Borough Council via a National Framework Agreement offered by The Procurement Partnership Limited (TPPL), an organisation that supports public sector bodies in their efforts to meet carbon neutral objectives, through its range of PCR2015-compliant fleet Framework Agreements.
James Brennan, Managing Director at TPPL, said: “The Hertfordshire County Council Purchase Framework is a market-leading vehicle procurement solution, and has a niche lot to facilitate the supply of electric vehicle charging points. We are proud to support public sector bodies in meeting their carbon neutral objectives, by enabling fully-operational charging infrastructure across the UK.”
innogy’s highly-skilled installation partner, Clarke EV, delivered all enabling civils works and electrical installs at Darlington Borough Council. This included charging points across its Allington Way and Lingfield Way depots. The innogy eClick and eBox chargers that form part of the new infrastructure can easily be swapped out or changed – a flexible and totally unique feature in the EV marketplace.
“innogy eMobility and Clarke EV delivered a superb job that the team should be really proud of.”
Gary Bennett, Waste & Transport Services Manager, Darlington Borough Council
Darlington Borough Council will also use innogy’s innovative software to manage its new EV charging infrastructure. This will enable it to accurately report savings and efficiencies back to the organisation.
Gary Bennett, Waste & Transport Services Manager at Darlington Borough Council, said:
“We’re really impressed with the technology supplied by innogy in the hardware and software for these EV chargers. Innogy’s install partner Clark EV were professional from start to finish. They all have a clear focus on quality workmanship and a right-first-time approach. It was impressive in terms of the civils works and install and commissioning.
“All works were delivered adhering to Covid protocols and working in freezing temperatures, including snow. Of particular note, although just a small detail, was the raising of the plinth just a few centimetres off the ground in case of any water gathering around the pedestal. That is a nice touch.
“Darlington Borough Council now have a really neat set of innogy chargers which look great. Overall, innogy eMobility and Clarke EV delivered a superb job that the team should be really proud of.”
In its capacity as an advanced technology and service provider, innogy eMobility is currently meeting the EV charging requirements of various businesses and organisations across the country – all of which are keen to boost their carbon neutral credentials.
The EV charging point roll out at Darlington Borough Council comes hot on the heels of innogy’s collaboration with Oxford City Council which is striving to reduce the city’s CO2 emissions by 750 tonnes per year by switching its 27-strong refuse vehicle fleet to electric power.
Karl Anders, CEO of innogy eMobility UK, said:
“We’re delighted that we can support Darlington Borough Council’s bid to embrace an EV future by installing our state-of-the-art hardware and software at its depots.
“More and more businesses and organisations are recognising the benefits of switching to an electric vehicle fleet, but they want the transition to be easy and reliable. I’m pleased that our products and expertise are delivering what they need and giving them the confidence to invest in a totally electric vehicle fleet.
“Part of the catalyst for change is customers realising our hardware and software work together to gather valuable data that can be integrated into third party platforms for management reporting, to understand driving behaviour and identify potential efficiency improvements across its fleet.”
