A NEW and beautifully designed electric car charging hub has been unveiled by its architects Hewitt Studios LLP.
Called K:Port Mobility Hubs, and available in London and Portishead, the light and airy canopies have been designed to inspire and enable the sustainable electrification of transport.
The designers say that K:Port is a low-carbon, multi-modal transport solution. It has been designed to allow deployment in prominent and sensitive locations with minimal environmental impact.
Among the aims of the design is to offer a clear focus on well-being, health and sustainability, which combine to change consumer behaviour.
The designers say they have leant on the Japanese notion of “Komorebi” – the dappled light which occurs when sunlight shines through the leaves of a tree.
Sustainability is built into the EV charging hub design which uses responsibly sourced timber and options for rainwater harvesting, sustainable drainage and net-gain biodiversity. There is also integrated energy generation from the Solar PV canopy which can be upgraded with battery storage and smart charging.
The build is modular, with prefabricated components that can be constructed in two to three weeks on site, says Hewitt Studios. At the end of its life, the timber frame has been designed to be re-locatable (to another site), re-usable (as a building frame) or disposable (as biomass fuel), ensuring a long-term sustainable legacy for a K:Port.
Where To Find A K:Port
A two ‘tree’ K:Port has recently been completed for Transport for London, in partnership with ESB Energy and Siemens Mobility (main picture). It is located adjacent to the Woolwich Ferry Terminal at Glass Yard. This provides eight 50kw rapid chargers (upgradable to 125kw), battery storage and smart energy management, as well as multi-modal travel connections to cycle route and river crossing. An integrated rain garden and sustainable drainage system enhances the site’s flood resilience.
A single ‘tree’ K:Port has also been installed at a prominent site at Parish Wharf in Portishead Marina, near Bristol (above). It has been delivered for North Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority as part of the Revive Network. It was funded by the Office of Zero Emissions vehicles via Go Ultra Low West. Initially, two 50kW rapid chargers will serve the four charging bays, with more capacity to be added in the future depending on demand.
Reaction On LinkedIn
Sara Sloman, Head of Future Mobility Partnerships at Elmtronics, had this to say on the professional connections site LinkedIn when she used a K:Port for the first time:
“What a way to end an awesome week of partnerships with Elmtronics and Hubsta UK… to see a real K:Port in the flesh and I’ve got to say, from all the design stages I saw this progress through – it took my breath away to drive up to it. Thank you Hewitt Studios LLP. Your vision and commitment to sustainability right down to the component level, is what makes the K:Port a huge opportunity for the UK to make its architecture stand out internationally.”
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