Port of Tyne has installed comprehensive EV charging infrastructure to support the transition of its van fleet to fully electric vehicles.

The new charge points support the Port of Tyne’s transition of its van fleet to fully electric vehicles

Located in North-East England, the deep sea port handles goods from around the globe as well as ferry and cruise ship passengers and required EV charging points across multiple locations on Tyneside. These will support its drive to decarbonise in its ambitious Tyne 2050 strategy, as well as enabling workplace charging for employees.

The partnership with EV charging specialist Mer, also based in the North-East, has delivered a comprehensive charging infrastructure package, based on a detailed survey of all Port of Tyne sites.

Mer installed 11 x 7kW charging points on the South Shields site, including the authority’s headquarters at Maritime House where an older charging post was replaced. It’s also deployed a dual 7kW charger at the Port of Tyne’s main ferry terminal building on the northern side of the river.

Dominique Davies, group procurement manager for Port of Tyne, said: “Mer listened to what we wanted and delivered cost-effective solutions tailored to our needs – for both our own fleet and for workplace charging. The Mer Connect software and app enables us to get the best possible usage out of our chargers, by making them accessible to both our van users and our employees.”

The Mer Connect platform provides automated charger management, and the ability to set tariffs, as well as reporting functionality. The app enables users to access the chargers, including taking payments if tariffs are in use.

Karl Anders, managing director of Mer, said: “Ports around the UK are looking at installing more chargers to meet the needs of their own EV fleets and growing demand for workplace charging from employees. At Mer we have developed a successful blueprint by providing a comprehensive, end-to-end service that makes this process both simple and cost-effective.”