The University of the West Indies (The UWI) has partnered with National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (National Energy), NGC CNG Company Limited (NGC CNG) and Massy Motors Limited (Massy Motors) to introduce a new Solar-Powered EV charging station at its St. Augustine Campus.
This public-access charger is a step towards promoting cleaner transport in Trinidad and Tobago.
The strategic partnership involved National Energy and NGC CNG contributing their expertise and resources in solar technology, while Massy Motors Limited generously donated the state-of-the-art EV charger.
Located near the highway, just to the south of The UWI’s St. Augustine Campus, the electric vehicle charging station is powered by a 5-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system and complemented by a 24-kilowatt hour battery solution.
Dr. Joseph Ishamel Khan, Chairman of National Energy and NGC CNG, noted, “UWI’s agreement to share performance data and insights from the system with National Energy and NGC CNG over the next three years paves the way for a comprehensive national solar EV charging initiative. We are therefore delighted to support their effort in establishing a SolarPowered EV charging station at its St. Augustine Campus which allows the public to embrace cleaner transportation and a healthier environment.”
Jeremy Pagee, Vice President of Massy Motors Trinidad, said his company was honored to partner with UWI in this undertaking. “Having taken a leadership position in a fledgling new Electric Vehicles market over five years ago, we are proud to work with UWI as they roll out this environmentally responsible public charging location. Measures such as these will assist the continued adoption and growth of the EV population on the roads of Trinidad & Tobago.”
Sanjay Bahadoorsingh, Head of Department, Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine remarked, “Having inaugurated the first GEI inspected electric vehicle (EV) charging station in 2019, our goal has been to continue supporting the region’s decarbonization initiatives through building R&D capacity related to transportation electrification. As pioneers in EV education, we are thrilled to partner with our sponsors to introduce this storage enabled solar PV charging station as the first step in enabling data driven research and development as well as opportunities for the local development of innovative solutions in the EV space.”