Bristol Airport

Background

Supporting Bristol Airport’s Transition To Electric

Bristol Airport approached VPG EV Solutions to provide a robust electric vehicle charging solution to support the electrification of their airside and landside bus fleet. The initial requirement was for a flexible, mobile charging system to support buses operating on the airside. Over time, the scope of the project evolved to include permanent infrastructure to accommodate permanent bays for bus charging.

Problem

Scaling Challenges & Compatibility Issues

While the initial request involved two Kempower movable chargers, it became clear that a more powerful, scalable solution was needed to support growing demand and long-term operational efficiency. Additionally, a technical challenge emerged when the Kempower Movable chargers failed to communicate with the airport’s Cobus manufactured electric buses, preventing successful charging sessions. This required rapid troubleshooting and collaboration with third parties to ensure complete uptime and availability.

Solution

A Scalable & Future-Proof Charging Solution And Turnkey Support

Hardware

VPG EV Solutions supplied two Kempower 40kW DC Movable Chargers for immediate airside bus charging. We also supplied a 400kW capable Kempower Double Cabinet, initially fitted with 200kW of power modules to allow for future scalability. Two Kempower Satellite chargers were installed alongside the cabinet as part of a hub and spoke system, to support multiple bus bays. In the very near future, Bristol Airport plan to add additional power modules to the cabinet system to increase capacity to 300kW, alongside an extra Satellite charger to further expand the system as demand grows.

Maintenance

VPG EV Solutions provided a full turnkey service, covering installation, commissioning and ongoing maintenance. Bristol Airport are supported by a 48-hour emergency SLA service, ensuring high system reliability, with over 99% uptime recorded over nearly two years. The infrastructure is now also used by airport engineers for van charging which is a testament to it’s performance and flexibility.

Compatibility Issues

Early on, a handshake issue between the Kempower Movable chargers, and the Cobus manufactured buses prevented charging. VPG EV Solutions swiftly identified the problem and sent the charger to Portugal for testing with Cobus engineers. After a month of diagnostics and testing, the charger returned fully functional, resolving the issue and maintaining uptime, a proactive move that underlined our commitment to ensuring system reliability at all times.

Client comments

Richard W. – Energy Efficiency Manager, Bristol Airport

“We have chosen VPG EV Solutions and the Kempower range of chargers for our Landside bus fleet. With an excellent history of reliability, we are looking to expand this infrastructure further as we replace the existing diesel fleet. VPG EV Solutions have provided an exceptional service to date.”