Elektromotive Secures Major Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deal With Saudi University

BRIGHTON, UNITED KINGDOM – July 30, 2009: Saudi Arabia is currently the world’s leading oil producer and exporter, but that doesn’t mean the country is being left behind in the shift towards emission-free motoring. On the contrary, one of the Kingdom’s leading universities has just signed one of the world’s biggest-ever electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure deals, commissioning Brighton-based Elektromotive to install 150 Elektrobay charging stations across its campus by September 2009.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a new graduate-level research university located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, will use the Elektrobay charging points for recharging the 150 new electric vehicles that will transport staff and pupils around the campus. The fleet of EVs will help reduce the university’s carbon footprint and improve air quality across the site.

The installation of the Elektrobays will present a unique technical challenge for Elektromotive. Typically the on-street Elektrobay has foundations that are 400mm deep, but KAUST engineers must install them in car parks that have shallow, solid-concrete flooring. Elektromotive’s solution is to create a bespoke ground-plate and mounting post, integrating the electrical feed cable that can be bolted to the concrete surface. Elektrobays can then be securely mounted in pairs, or in other configurations up to a total of four.

The deal with the university underlines Britain’s leadership in the development of EV infrastructure technologies – Elektromotive already exports Elektrobays to Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland. With 160 units currently in operation across the UK, plans are underway to accelerate expansion of the Elektrobay charging network, both on a national and international level.

“We’re thrilled to be involved in this project,” comments an enthused Elektromotive Managing Director, Calvey Taylor-Haw. “The project has already posed a number of interesting technical challenges, but we have the expertise and the experience to meet the university’s objectives on time and within budget.

“KAUST is demonstrating true leadership in the implementation of charging infrastructures for electric vehicles. We hope this move will spur more organisations and decision-makers worldwide to invest in zero-emissions motoring.”