A new pop-up mini solar car park and electric vehicle charging hub that’s deployable in just 24 hours has debuted this week in the UK.

The Papilio3 combines solar photovoltaics and battery storage with existing local electricity infrastructure to optimise EV charging, bringing benefits of on-site energy to EV users

The Papilio3 is a modular unit that provides up to 12 fast EV charge points and is designed to expand EV infrastructure rapidly, providing improved, more reliable and safer destination and workplace charging experience.

Said to be a world-first, it’s been developed by 3ti, the team behind the UK’s largest solar car parks, and is manufactured in the UK from recycled shipping containers.

It combines solar photovoltaics and battery storage with existing local electricity infrastructure to optimise EV charging, bringing benefits of on-site energy to EV users. The use of solar power also reduces the need for carbon-intensive peak grid electricity and helps drive the decarbonisation of the UK transport sector. The hub provides battery storage capacity of up to 250kWh and supports a mixture of 7, 11 and 22kW chargers, while also offering sheltered, illuminated and secure parking.

As well as being quick to deploy, Papilio3 is available from 3ti on a rental contract and therefore requires no capital investment by customers. It also circumvents the long lead times caused by complex planning approvals and investment requirements.

The Papilio3 was debuted this week at the Surrey Research Park, Guildford, and helps tackle the UK’s need to expand electric vehicle infrastructure ahead of the Government’s ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles in 2030.

The firm said that while overnight charging at home generally provides the most cost-effective, carbon-efficient, sustainable form of EV charging, around 50% of households in the UK will not be able to do this.

Instead, it’s highlighting that solar and battery-boosted destination and workplace charging will become the best EV charging solution for drivers, irrespective of the type of home they live in.

Tim Evans, 3ti founder and CEO, explained: “By utilising dwell times of several hours, when cars are parked at work or when the driver is visiting a shopping or leisure venue, for example, 3ti’s system ensures that EVs can achieve a level of charge that covers day-to-day driving needs and does it in the most low-carbon way.”

Evans added: “By deploying fast charge points, up to 12 at a time, with Papilio3, we will provide much needed, cost-effective charge point infrastructure and expand the UK’s network of public EV charge points.”

For businesses, the Papilio3 will enable them to generate renewable energy right outside their front door, not only giving them greater control of energy costs but also making a huge statement to customers and visitors that they are serious about tackling climate change and reducing carbon emissions.

“Papilio3 isn’t just about providing the UK with a broader range of EV charge points,” Evans concluded. “It also focuses on the capture and management of renewable energy, as a way of reducing the country’s draw on carbon-intensive energy for EV charging at peak times.”