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Battery storage units put Cardiff University racing team in pole position

Students from across Cardiff Universityā€™s engineering degree disciplines compete every year in the Formula Student (FSUK) competition, which tasks teams to design, build and race a single-seater race car. And as Cardiff Racing, which became the first British team to win FSUK in 2017, makes the leap to electric racing cars, they approached S Jones Containers to develop a secure solution to store and charge batteries on campus.

The image shows a green 10-foot metal container located on the Cardiff University campus. It is used for storing and charging batteries. The container is positioned outdoors next to a brick building, surrounded by a neatly trimmed hedge and a low brick wall. The area has a paved walkway in the foreground and a mix of greenery and urban features in the background.

The Challenge

Battery safety is paramount, especially as the 10ft container unit is located on the universityā€™s busy city centre campus in close proximity to other buildings.

A safe and secure solution

Our Conversions Division incorporated additional safety elements as part of the design. This included using fire-rated materials throughout to make sure the entire container is fire rated from inside to out to give 60 minutes of fire resistance, and installing three phases of electrics – all with surge protection. The 10ft container was also fitted with an external isolator and a powerful 5KW HVAC unit ā€“ deliberately oversized to keep the equipment cool at all times. It features a super strong steel 60 Min Fire Rated Door and doorset and is securely locked with our own heavy duty patented Contain-A-LockĀ®Ā system which is corrosion resistant and tamper proof.

This image shows a compact, 10-foot metal container spray-painted in dark olive green. The container is situated outdoors on a paved area, marked with yellow parking lines, under a clear blue sky. The container features a secured personnel door on the left side with a handle and lock, and double cargo doors on the front. The surroundings include other similarly sized containers, suggesting a storage or industrial facility.

The results

The unit, which we spray-painted dark olive green to blend with its surroundings, took just four weeks from initial design to completion, ready to deliver to campus.

Anthony James, Space Manager at Cardiff University School of Engineering commented:

ā€œWe couldnā€™t be happier with the service we received from S Jones Containers. The design and the finish of the container are exceptional and will help us build on our racing success in a safe environment.ā€

If youā€™re interested in any of our services or have additional questions, please contact us. Our team is available to provide expert advice and support, ensuring you find the perfect solution for your needs.

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