Forest Hill

Lewisham, London

Private Sector

7 weeks

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Project Highlights:

Full turnkey transformation – completely stripped back the existing site and installed brand-new infrastructure. Hubber’s first-ever project was delivered successfully, setting a strong benchmark for future sites.
Rapid delivery – entire project completed within just seven weeks, on schedule and on budget.
Complex urban coordination – managed road closures and traffic diversions in central London through close liaison with TfL and the local council, ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding area.

The Challenge:

Situ Energy was tasked with delivering a full turnkey EV charging hub in partnership with Hubber and RAW Charging, transforming a previously derelict NCP car park, often cluttered with abandoned vehicles, into a modern, high-capacity rapid charging facility. The hub was designed to feature six rapid EV chargers supplying 12 charging bays and a full high-voltage (HV) connection, catering to London residents without home charging options as well as taxi operators seeking reliable, fast-charging infrastructure in central locations.

Located within a busy urban environment, the site required extensive coordination with multiple third parties, including Transport for London (TfL), local authorities, and surrounding businesses. To connect the site to the electricity network, Situ Energy worked closely with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to install new 11kV cabling, identifying a connection point 900mm underground and managing all associated approvals.

Traffic management posed additional challenges. Highways permissions were secured to implement a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) on the main road for three weeks, involving careful liaison with TfL Road and TfL Buses to create two diversion routes, ensuring minimal disruption. Despite these constraints, the project demanded a quick turnaround while delivering a full, turnkey solution that met all operational, safety, and compliance requirements.

The Solution:

Situ Energy delivered a full turnkey solution, transforming the former NCP car park into a high-capacity EV charging hub in just seven weeks. The project included six state-of-the-art Alpitronic rapid chargers providing 12 charging bays. These modular DC ultra-fast chargers are designed for high-voltage electric vehicles, delivering up to 400 kW of power with dynamic energy distribution to charge multiple vehicles simultaneously. They are renowned for their reliability, compact footprint, and energy efficiency, and feature large touchscreen interfaces for intuitive operation. Fully scalable, they can be upgraded from lower-power models, making them ideal for both public and fleet charging.

The hub was also equipped with Schneider equipment, including a bespoke LV pillar and one of the first ring main units (RMU) installed by an ICP. The bespoke LV pillar is a custom low-voltage distribution cabinet that safely houses the site’s electrical components, including metering and protection devices, enabling efficient and secure power distribution to the chargers. The ring main unit enhances resilience and operational flexibility, allowing for uninterrupted service even during maintenance or load changes.

Situ Energy collaborated closely with the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to install new 11kV HV cabling from a connection point 900mm underground and coordinated all approvals with TfL, local authorities, and neighbouring businesses. Situ Construction, our sister company, delivered the civil engineering works, including road excavation, sub-surface preparation, and structural adjustments necessary for the HV connection and charger installation.

Through careful planning, stakeholder collaboration, and precise execution, the project was delivered on time, fully operational, and ready to serve urban drivers and fleet operators, providing a reliable, high-speed charging solution in central London.

The Results:

The RAW Rapid EV Charging Hub was successfully completed on schedule and on budget, delivering a high-capacity, fully operational charging solution in just seven weeks. This project marked Hubber’s first ever site, and positive feedback from the client highlighted the professionalism, efficiency, and quality of the delivery.

The hub now features six Alpitronic rapid chargers with 12 charging bays, fully supported by Schneider equipment, including the bespoke LV pillar and ring main unit, providing reliable, scalable, and ultra-fast charging for both public users and fleet operators. Drivers can achieve an 80% charge in just 20–30 minutes, significantly faster than domestic alternatives, ensuring the hub meets the needs of urban residents, high-rise dwellers without home charging, and central London taxis.

The location also delivers wider benefits to the surrounding area. Local businesses gain from increased footfall as drivers spend time at nearby amenities while charging, and the collaborative planning process ensured minimal disruption during construction. By combining cutting-edge technology, strategic urban placement, and a seamless turnkey delivery, the project establishes a benchmark for high-capacity EV hubs in central London.