“Easy charging in the municipality” – New guide from the Centre for Charging Infrastructure supports cities and municipalities in the expansion of charging infrastructure

Cities and municipalities in Germany play a key role in the expansion of publicly accessible charging infrastructure. The new “Easy Charging in the Municipality” (“Einfach laden in der Kommune”) guide provides practical assistance in the implementation of charging infrastructure for public roads. In particular, it introduces the topics of awarding contracts, tendering and approval processes. It has now been published as part of the Charging Infrastructure Conference of the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport (BMDV – Bundesministerium für Digitales und Verkehr).

In order to achieve the climate protection goals of the federal government and to support the ramp-up of electric mobility in Germany, the expansion of the public and private charging infrastructure needs to occur in advance. A good 90 percent of the municipalities in Germany are either already active in terms of charging infrastructure or are planning activities. The tasks of the municipalities include, in particular, the creation of comprehensive charging infrastructure concepts, the determination of needs and potentials as well as the local coordination of the expansion, e.g., by making public areas available for the establishment of charging infrastructure.

The new guide explains the role of municipalities with regard to charging infrastructure and outlines municipal instruments for action. It deals with the legal framework and provides practical solutions for the implementation of charging infrastructure on public roads. The guide introduces the topics of awarding, tendering and approval processes and provides a comprehensive overview of the facets of construction and operation. With the help of best-practice examples, numerous illustrations and references to relevant legal regulations, the many fields of action for the expansion of the charging infrastructure in the municipality are described. It provides assistance in dealing with potential operating companies, in the reallocation of road space and in the charging point signposting. In addition, the guide also highlights the added value that the FlächenTOOL (PlotTOOL) of the National Centre of Charging Infrastructure can offer municipalities when it comes to the expansion of charging infrastructure.

Johannes Pallasch, Spokesperson for the Management Team of the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure: “Only if a user-friendly, comprehensive and demand-oriented range of public charging options is provided locally in the municipalities will electric mobility become a success in day-to-day life. Municipal stakeholders must assume more responsibility for the development of charging infrastructure – but at the same time they need more support in the planning and implementation of projects. Therefore, as the National ChCentre for Charging Infrastructure, we are striving to make municipalities fit for the future when it comes to charging and provide them with our digital tools and information services, such as this guide.”

Download the Guide (PDF, in German)