Page 14 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2019 publication

14 Summer 2019 European Energy Innovation

COMMUNICATION

European cities driving electrification:
challenges and opportunities

By Maria-Angeliki Evliati, Project Manager, City of Stockholm, leading on work in the CIVITAS
ECCENTRIC project related to the uptake of clean vehicles

Cutting emissions from road
transport and improving air
quality is increasingly central to
the local political agenda across
Europe. Although the path towards
electrification is anything but
obstacle-free, cities have an excellent
opportunity to take the lead, inspire
and facilitate this transition. Under
the CIVITAS ECCENTRIC project, the
cities of Madrid, Munich, Stockholm
and Turku have been testing
electric vehicles (EVs), emerging
infrastructure, new processes and
business models since 2016.

DEPLOYING CHARGING TEST FLEETS CAN ENABLE THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSITION Testing new technology and processes
Whilst there is agreement that To facilitate the transition to EVs, has not come without obstacles.
charging infrastructure is crucial future EV drivers need to experience Existing legal frameworks do not
for electrification, there is no one driving and charging themselves. foresee EVs, and the role of city
answer as to where chargers should Test users can also give valuable administrations are often not clearly
be placed in a city in order to feedback to the car industry on described. Moreover, counteracting
accommodate users’ various needs. vehicle and charging functionality strategies and incentives for EV
The ratio of home-public charging and to policymakers on local and deployment are not a rare case across
is widely discussed. In Stockholm, national policies and instruments for Europe. However, users demonstrate
where home charging is the primary e-mobility. Municipal employees in strong interest and curiosity to test
focus, the city has conducted an Madrid and Turku now have access EVs and private companies are
information campaign for single to EVs and light EVs procured in technologically ready. Cities have in
and multifamily houses. Access to the municipal fleet; tradesmen this context a prime opportunity to
public charging infrastructure, both and delivery companies are testing lead the way by interpreting local
on- and off-street, is a political electric vans in Stockholm; and legislation, identifying suitable business
target which should also increase efforts are being made to reduce models, acting as impartial sources of
visibility and the daily range of the charging times in Munich by testing information, and by boosting the EV
vehicle. Stockholm's business model a light EV with a battery swapping market through procurement. Cities
for on-street charging is based on system. As micro-mobility services can use those grey zones in a way
access rights agreements, where appear in most European cities, that enables them to realise their
utility companies set up and operate Munich is also carrying out a study environmental vision and creates
charging on public land. In contrast with users of free-floating scooters. precedents for others to follow. l
to Stockholm, Madrid does not
actively promote on-street charging CIVITAS ECCENTRIC, alongside the other CIVITAS Living Lab projects
in the inner city in order to avoid DESTINATIONS and PORTIS, is organising a session during the EUSEW
lock-in effects through reserving Policy Conference in Brussels on 18 June. This will demonstrate how they
public space for parking. Existing and their 180 sustainable mobility measures are helping to shape Europe’s
on-street charging spots run by sustainable energy future. All projects fall under the CIVITAS Initiative, one
private operators are currently being of the European Commission's main vehicles for promoting sustainable
upgraded from normal to fast. Madrid urban mobility.
invests primarily in off-street charging
in municipal car parks and petrol
stations.