OCS Completes Low-Carbon Vehicle Hub for the Electric Era

OCS, formerly FES FM and Support Services (“OCS”) has completed the build of a new £1.3 million low-carbon vehicle hub to facilitate electric vehicles at The Falkirk Stadium in Falkirk, Scotland.

OCS was awarded the contract and fulfilled the role of principal designer and principal contractor. The development is part of Falkirk Stadium’s goal to create a car park area exclusively for electric vehicles. The team created 26 electric vehicle parking bays, designating three of the bays closest to the stadium for disabled drivers.

The Installation

To power the hub, we installed five 50kW Dual Rapid chargers and eight 22kW dual fast chargers across the site. A sustainable Solar PV system and battery storage provide energy for the chargers.

The team also installed three dual-wing canopies and a single canopy over the car parking spaces within the new and existing car parks. They also took a single supply cable from the new energy store back to Falkirk Stadium. This setup allows any excess energy generated from the Solar PV to supply the stadium before exporting it to the grid. A Dynamic Load Management System controls the energy demand from the array of EV chargers. It prioritises rapid chargers during peak demand while ensuring they do not breach the site limit.

Challenges

One of the main challenges the team faced during the installation of the power supply was the presence of high-voltage overhead lines running throughout the construction area. Consequently, this created a maximum workable height of six metres for the entire site.

To overcome this, the team deployed bespoke methodologies. They included dedicated H&S engagement sessions during the pre-construction phase. Additionally, they collaborated with Scottish Power on constructibility and lifting strategies when installing the solar canopies. Furthermore, the team returned the car park to its original layout, ensuring all support posts sat on the parking lines without losing any existing parking spaces.

A Wealth of Experience

To overcome this challenging installation, OCS used their previous experience in renewable, electrical, and HV infrastructure and construction to deliver a full turnkey project.

The project has been completed and handed over to Falkirk Stadium on time and with zero defects. This success has opened the door for OCS to be awarded the contract to build the second low-carbon vehicle hub on the ‘Electric A9’ in Stirling, Scotland.