Electric Vehicle charging pods

Summary

A request for detailed data on Isle of Man electric vehicle charging pods, including installation costs, usage statistics, and lifespan justifications, was partially fulfilled by the Manx Utilities Authority. The authority disclosed total pod counts, installation costs, and annual revenue figures but withheld specific usage data and lifespan documentation citing lack of access to third-party databases and absence of held records.

Key Facts

• There are currently 71 electric vehicle charging points hosting 133 charging sockets.
• The total cost of installing the charging points to date is £676,000.
• The Podpoint database is not hosted on Manx Utilities infrastructure, limiting data extraction capabilities.
• Manx Utilities does not hold information justifying the 5-year lifespan statement or confirming malfunctioning pods.
• The original contract with Podpoint was for three years with an optional two-year extension.

Data Disclosed

• 71 charging points
• 133 charging sockets
• £676,000
• £22,573.64
• £43,806.65
• £80,982.60
• 2021-22
• 2022-23
• 2023-24
• 5 years
• 3 years
• 2 years

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11(3)(a) of the Act (Information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)

Original Request

Having provided further information and seeking clarification this has now been amended to read: Please provide a list showing - 1. the total number of electric vehicle charging pods; 2. the date of installation of the pods in the locations referred to; 3. the total cost of installing all of the pods; and 4. the number of times wince the pods were installed that the owners/drivers of electric vehicles have accessed the individual pods to extract electricity into their vehicles; and 5. the number of units of electricity extracted from each of the pods by each vehicle access; and 6. the amount charged in respect of each individual extraction of electricity; and 7. the cost of producing the electricity in respect of each individual extraction f electricity. 8. All information that the MUA holds which justifies its statement that the lifespan of the pods is only 5 years 9. All information that the MUA holds which justifies its statement that the pods have to be replaced after only five years of usage. 10.All information that the MUA holds which confirms that the pods are not functioning as they ought to.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 4326841 30 January 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 17 December 2024 which, having provided further information after seeking clarification has been amended as follows:

Please provide a list showing -

1. the total number of electric vehicle charging pods;

2. the date of installation of the pods in the locations referred to;

3. the total cost of installing all of the pods; and

4. the number of times since the pods were installed that the owners/drivers of electric vehicles have accessed the individual pods to extract electricity into their vehicles; and

5. the number of units of electricity extracted from each of the pods by each vehicle access; and

6. the amount charged in respect of each individual extraction of electricity; and

7. the cost of producing the electricity in respect of each individual extraction of electricity.

8. All information that the MUA holds which justifies its statement that the lifespan of the pods is only 5 years

9. All information that the MUA holds which justifies its statement that the pods have to be replaced after only five years of usage.

10.All information that the MUA holds which confirms that the pods are not functioning as they ought to."

I have detailed below the information that is held.

1. the total number of electric vehicle charging pods;

The total number of electric vehicle charging points currently is 71 hosting a total of 133 charging sockets.

1. the date of installation of the pods in the locations referred to;

Please see attached ‘Installation Dates’ document (please note that some site duplications relate to replacement of charging points with either Podpoint or Evolt charge points).

1. the total cost of installing all of the pods; and

The total cost of installing the charging points to date is £676,000.

1. the number of times since the pods were installed that the owners/drivers of electric vehicles have accessed the individual pods to extract electricity into their vehicles; and

2. the number of units of electricity extracted from each of the pods by each vehicle access; and

3. the amount charged in respect of each individual extraction of electricity; and

In response to points 4, 5, and 6:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find some of the information that you have requested in line with Section 11(3)(a) of the Act.

The Podpoint database is not hosted on the Manx Utilities infrastructure and has various, but limited enquiry functions that allow us to view or extract data.

However, to assist with request no.6 we can advise that the total annual revenue between 2021 and 2024 was:

2021-22 £22,573.64 2022-23 £43,806.65 2023-24 £80,982.60

1. the cost of producing the electricity in respect of each individual extraction of electricity.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested in line with Section 11(3)(a) of the Act.

1. All information that the MUA holds which justifies its statement that the lifespan of the pods is only 5 years

2. All information that the MUA holds which justifies its statement that the pods have to be replaced after only five years of usage.

10.All information that the MUA holds which confirms that the pods are not functioning as they ought to."

In response to points 8, 9, and 10:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Manx Utilities does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested in line with Section 11(3)(a) of the Act.

However, to assist we can advise that the original contract for supply of the charging points was awarded to Podpoint for a three year term with an optional extension of two years. MU extended the contract following the three year term but due to a change in business model at Podpoint it was announced last year that they would no longer be supplying and supporting charge points except for domestic users.

MU secured a further two year support term from Podpoint last year which has enabled us to seek and appoint a suitable alternative supplier (Evolt). A programme to replace charge points that will ultimately become obsolete is currently underway.

Please quote the reference number 4326841 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.

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