New recommendations for procuring electric vehicle charging infrastructure

The Sustainable Transport Forum has recently issued a set of recommendations, co-authored by DG MOVE, POLIS and TNO, which provides guidance to local authorities for procuring, awarding concessions, licences and/or granting support for electric vehicle (EV) recharging infrastructure for passenger cars and vans. These aim to serve as detailed guidelines for cities and regions which are aiming to further develop their sustainable mobility offer.

More than ever, cities and regions are looking to expand their EV charging infrastructure to achieve their ambitious sustainable mobility targets. Cities such as Madrid and Amsterdam have set out new electric charging strategies, while Ile-de-France has established a digital platform to help EV users and providers.

Nonetheless, cities and regions still face many challenges when trying to expand and enhance their EV charging infrastructure, which are very closely related with the preparation of good procurement guidelines, which are essential for these efforts to be successful. Procurement requires thorough planning, an alignment between multiple stakeholders and the efficient use of resources.

The guidelines address these concerns, drawing on information provided by the European Commission, with specific examples and recommendations for local authorities planning the deployment of charging infrastructure in their territories. Further, together with other European Alternative Fuels Observatory (EAFO) partners, POLIS explored good practice examples, minimum requirements and potential bottlenecks.

The document lays out a set of recommendations in a concise and practical format, making the information accessible to a range of transport stakeholders. Drawing on practices established in cities such as London, Stuttgart, Madrid and others, the recommendations examine the organisation of tender procedures and the establishment of tender requirements, such as the geographic location of infrastructure, interoperability and security. The full recommendations can be consulted here.

The summary handbook is also available, highlighting the main findings, recommendations and examples included in the detailed STF report. While the first chapter is relevant for all public authorities, the latter two are targeted in particular at those authorities who intend to publicly procure or award concessions, licences and/or government support for electric recharging infrastructure. The goal is to reach public authorities but also other relevant stakeholders. European cities and regions can consider and apply the recommendations and examples presented in this handbook, while other actors can benefit from recognising how local authorities are currently organising the deployment of recharging infrastructure and implementing innovative solutions to reduce transport related air and CO2 emissions.

Article first published first at POLIS Network on 28 January 2021.