{"id":63890,"date":"2025-05-21T10:18:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T14:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/revolutionizing-ev-charging-how-felltens-charge-qube-is-paving-the-way-for-a-greener-future\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T10:18:07","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T14:18:07","slug":"revolutionizing-ev-charging-how-felltens-charge-qube-is-paving-the-way-for-a-greener-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/revolutionizing-ev-charging-how-felltens-charge-qube-is-paving-the-way-for-a-greener-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Revolutionizing EV Charging: How Fellten’s Charge Qube is Paving the Way for a Greener Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fellten, an innovative electric vehicle (EV) technology company based in Yate, near Bristol, has made quite a name for itself by merging creativity with sustainability. Initially known for crafting unique electric vehicles, including Batmobiles, the company has recently pivoted towards a groundbreaking project: the Charge Qube. This portable charging solution is designed to address the pressing need for accessible EV charging infrastructure, especially in areas where traditional grid connections are impractical or too costly.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Charge Qube All About?<\/p>\n

Imagine a 10-foot ISO-certified steel container, capable of housing up to eight second-life car batteries, providing a total of 450kWh of power. That\u2019s the essence of the Charge Qube. It\u2019s not just a charging station; it\u2019s a flexible energy solution that can be transported easily on the back of a truck, making it ideal for various locations\u2014from urban centers to remote areas. The idea is to offer affordable charging options for electric vehicles, particularly when full grid connections are either difficult or impossible to establish.<\/p>\n

Chris Hazell, one of the co-founders of Fellten, emphasizes that the Charge Qube represents a shift in the company\u2019s mission. While their previous projects were driven by a passion for cars, this new venture is rooted in addressing a critical environmental challenge: the need for cleaner energy solutions. By repurposing batteries from electric vehicles that have reached the end of their first life, Fellten is not only promoting sustainability but also creating a viable business model.<\/p>\n

How Did Fellten Get Here?<\/p>\n

Fellten\u2019s journey began in 2018 under the name Zero EV. Hazell, a former petrolhead, transitioned to electric vehicles after realizing that the limits of combustion engines had been reached. His background in large-scale power management, including overseeing power systems for major events like the London Olympics, equipped him with the skills necessary to innovate in the EV space.<\/p>\n

The company initially gained traction by converting traditional vehicles into electric ones, including a Tesla-powered Volkswagen camper and a fleet of electric stunt cars for the film industry. Their unique approach\u2014transparency about battery technology\u2014set them apart from competitors who often kept their methods under wraps. This openness fostered trust and attracted a loyal customer base.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s Next for Fellten?<\/p>\n

With the Charge Qube, Fellten is looking to the future. The company plans to expand its offerings, aiming to deploy a fleet of 3,000 to 4,000 charging hubs globally, potentially reaching markets in Africa and Australia. Each Qube can charge up to ten vehicles simultaneously, and future versions will offer rapid charging capabilities, making them even more versatile.<\/p>\n

Hazell is particularly excited about the potential impact on commercial vehicles. He notes that while private cars sit idle for 97% of their lives, commercial vehicles are in constant use. The Charge Qube can help businesses transition to electric fleets by providing a reliable and efficient charging solution that can be powered by renewable energy sources.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead: Innovations and Challenges<\/p>\n

Fellten is not stopping at the Charge Qube. Hazell envisions developing a 20-30kWh module that could be carried by vehicles needing a temporary range boost, as well as tackling the complex issue of battery recycling. While many believe lithium will remain a key component in batteries, Hazell suggests that the industry may shift away from lithium in the long run, raising questions about the future value of lithium batteries.<\/p>\n

His commitment to sustainability is evident. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a wake-up call for him, highlighting the urgent need for environmentally friendly solutions. The Charge Qube is not just a business venture for Hazell; it\u2019s a chance to contribute positively to the planet.<\/p>\n

The big takeaway? The evolution of electric vehicles isn\u2019t just about making them faster or more powerful; it\u2019s about creating smarter, more sustainable solutions for our energy needs. By focusing on innovative projects like the Charge Qube, companies like Fellten are paving the way for a cleaner, greener future. If you\u2019re curious about how you can contribute to this shift, consider exploring one small change in your own life this week\u2014whether it\u2019s reducing energy consumption or supporting sustainable businesses. You might just notice the difference by the end of the month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"Fellton<\/a><\/p>\n

\n Fellten\u2019s Chris Hazell: a born-again petrolhead who fully embraces EVs<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

EV specialists Fellten have branched out from Batmobiles to creating a portable charge point with global appeal<\/p>\n

\n

A flatbed truck carrying two severely damaged vehicles rolls slowly by as we stand chatting on a concrete apron outside the headquarters of Fellten,\u00a0an EV technology company based in Yate, near Bristol.<\/p>\n

Your first impression might be that these sorry vehicles have come to their last resting place, but not so. Instead, they\u2019re beginning a second life every bit as useful as the first.<\/p>\n

The cars are electric cars<\/a>, specifically a Ford<\/a> van and a Tesla Model 3<\/a> saloon, and they\u2019re about to donate their most vital organs \u2013 their traction batteries \u2013 to a new, rule-changing project that promises to do more for cleaning the environment than all the ZEV mandates<\/a> you can climb over.<\/p>\n

These batteries will join other second-lifers in a new-tech Fellten high-voltage battery pack called Charge Qube, a 10ft ISO-certified corrugated steel container that can be moved singly or in groups wherever you want on the back of a truck.<\/p>\n

It comprises an array of up to eight (450kWh) second-life car batteries to provide affordable juice for electric cars where full-on grid connection is either difficult, inconvenient, too expensive or impossible.<\/p>\n

According to Fellten co-founder Chris Hazell, whom we visited at Yate to hear the story, Charge Qube is the first product in his six-year-old company\u2019s already busy history that isn\u2019t \u201cpassion driven\u201d by a simple love of cars.<\/p>\n

But he also believes Fellten\u2019s exotic history of electric car creation has proved there is a powerful\u00a0need for just such a product.<\/p>\n

Fellten started life under the name Zero EV in 2018, and it has rapidly become part of that group of small but prolific technology companies on which this country bases its claim to be a leader in advanced EV technology.<\/p>\n

Hazell says he started messing with electric vehicles having built some potent combustion-engined cars in his youth, when he discovered that \u201ceverything had been done\u201d.<\/p>\n

Everyone was running into the same performance limits, he says. If you built anything super-special it would probably be unreliable and use too much fuel,\u00a0so it couldn\u2019t be used as a daily driver.<\/p>\n

Hazell\u2019s career in large-scale power management started early. First he worked in stage electrics but soon graduated to big stuff.<\/p>\n

During the 2012 London Olympics, he was put in charge of keeping 650 generators healthy. The much-praised opening ceremony alone needed power from eight massive generators mounted on barges in the middle of the Thames.<\/p>\n

Hazell did events such as the Glastonbury Festival\u00a0in summer, then he travelled around the\u00a0country in winter supervising power systems\u00a0for temporary ice rink installations.<\/p>\n

A dalliance with a business called Ramp It Up (which rented car ramps and tool sets to DIYers) lost money, but Hazell says it taught him plenty about running a business \u2013 stuff like PAYE and business rates \u2013 and about building cars.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

His first electric car was a Skyline R32 <\/a>stunt car (find it on YouTube), and another was a Tesla-engined split-screen Volkswagen camper<\/a>.<\/p>\n

That led to the creation of a trio of electric stunt cars for a Macau casino \u2013 they didn\u2019t like the noise and the exhaust gases of ICE cars \u2013 and a realisation that film-makers (via YouTube again) often preferred EVs in some situations because they were quiet and could be used indoors. Fellten had the\u00a0know-how and was happy to oblige.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe film industry was good for us,\u201d says Hazell. \u201cWe built the powertrains, and their engineers put them in the cars. The co-operation was great. They were mostly motorsport engineers and standards were high.<\/p>\n

“We had\u00a0to run hard to keep up, but we learned fast.\u201d Covid lockdowns also helped. The YouTube audience for a Fellten Mazda MX-5<\/a> converted to battery power was massive \u2013 and good for business.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were the first in the business to talk about the insides of our batteries and show them,\u201d says Chris Skelton, who runs the company\u2019s training arm. \u201cOthers presented\u00a0their technology as a black box to hide the magic, but we show everything.<\/p>\n

“It pays dividends to\u00a0be open and honest; the only exception is if\u00a0a client has protected their work with an\u00a0NDA [non-disclosure agreement].\u201d<\/p>\n

As a follow-on from the YouTube success, Fellten began making cars for Top Gear, including an 80mph, four-wheel-drive electric ice-cream van called Mr Nippy. One of eight Batmobiles used in a recent film had a Fellten EV powertrain, and BMW<\/a> ordered six electrified traditional Minis<\/a> for an anniversary celebration and then allowed Fellten to use its design for customers \u2013 so far they\u2019ve made about 200.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

One yellow G-plate Mini, still at Yate, was subsequently and famously used by Mr Bean, Rowan Atkinson\u2019s madcap comedy character.<\/p>\n

Fellten was by now using its burgeoning knowledge to build EV conversion kits for other classics, principally Minis, Land Rovers<\/a> and Porsche 911s<\/a>. That business was healthy for a while, but the number of buyers seemed finite.<\/p>\n

Demand waned as Hazell knew it would: he was already poised with plans to embrace bespoke battery manufacture \u2013 for customers\u2019 converted cars, boats and even experimental aeroplanes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It was profitable and remains so; rivals have\u00a0got better at integrating technology but are\u00a0still reluctant to build their own batteries. Skelton offers training courses from four hours (awareness) to four days (diagnosis and rectification). This part of the Fellten business started early in the 2020s and is still well patronised.<\/p>\n

It was never intended to be wildly profitable, but more to encourage recruits into a subject area where Fellten bosses reckon there\u2019s far too little knowledge and to raise awareness of Fellten products among those who will use them.<\/p>\n

However, all of this now looks like a mere launchpad for the container-sized Charge Qube, the EV charging hub solution that Skelton reckons could lead beyond 2030 to a worldwide \u2018fleet\u2019 of 3000-4000 hired hubs deployed around the world, perhaps as far away as Africa and Australia.<\/p>\n

The company has built and tested prototypes and is now aiming to raise an initial \u00a35 million from investors to kick-start a new division of its business.<\/p>\n

Under the current design, every Qube can contain up to 450kWh of power and charge up to 10 vehicles simultaneously via Type 2 chargers delivering power at a typical 7kW home-charger rate.<\/p>\n

Soon there will be versions capable\u00a0of rapid-charging two vehicles via CCS connectors at up to 240kW. Hazell is especially bullish about the contribution the Qube can make to pollution caused by vans and trucks.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrivate cars aren\u2019t used for 97% of their lives,\u201d he says, \u201cbut commercials are much busier. Qubes \u2013 which are designed to be installed without planning permission \u2013 can power fleets from their depots then recharge at cheap rates overnight, or from wind or solar sources. It\u2019s\u00a0a big benefit for cars, but I think the benefit\u00a0for vans will be huge: it will encourage businesses to change their fleets.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What with battery manufacture, EV system design, replacement powertrains, training and the mighty Qube, you could say Fellten was pretty well covered for most electric car aspects, but Hazell sees two more: the invention of a 20-30kWh module to be carried by a vehicle that needs its range to be temporarily extended, and full-on recycling. The former will come soon, he reckons: Fellten has already started inventing it.<\/p>\n

Recycling is more problematic, he believes. The conventional view is that recyclers will recover lithium and profitably use it again, but Hazell isn\u2019t so sure. \u201cI believe there will be a long-term move away from lithium in batteries \u2013 lots of work is being done on that,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen it comes, I\u2019m not so sure lithium batteries will have the value people think. We\u2019ll give them a second life, but I\u2019m not sure we\u2019ll want to shred them.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a person who came from the big-cubes petrolhead culture, Hazell is almost the complete convert to EVs \u2013 although he does still harbour a not-so-secret desire to build a DeLorean hybrid with a V8 engine in the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cCovid had a big effect on me,\u201d he says. \u201cEverything stopped and the weather got better; dolphins started swimming through Venice. That made me think we\u2019re not doing enough to make things better. Charge Qube is something I can do now, to make things a bit better. It can help change the game.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":63891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"Default","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,137],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-featured","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63890"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63890\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.globalvillagespace.com\/tech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}