Electrical vehicles use and e-car sharing scheme

Summary

The Basque Government's Energy Agency and the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz signed a collaborative covenant for the construction of a Mobility Logistic Centre. This centre would consist in an information point, car-sharing base and recharging centre for electric vehicles.

Implementing sustainable mobility

The first objective was the set up of an Electromobility Centre. This centre would consist in an information point, car-sharing base and recharging centre for electric vehicles.Work undertaken within the measure

The first step in carrying out the identified measures was the development and definition of a formal agreement between the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) and the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (AVG) to promote the use of electric vehicles in this city.
The signature of this agreement was the settlement of the foundations of a joint bid for these two Bodies to promote the introduction of electric vehicles in Vitoria as a means of improving energy efficiency in transport. Having reached this important preliminary point, we began to work on achieving the objectives:

Besides, in the framework of the Vitoria-Gasteiz Mobility and Public Space Plan, a pilot project for the introduction of electric vehicles was foreseen: the introduction of an experimental electric car-sharing scheme with the installation of 13 charging points either for public and car-sharing use.

Summarizing, the objectives of this measure were:

• The implementation, in the city centre, of an Electromobility Centre.
• The implementation of an infrastructure of charging points for EVs.
• The implementation of an experimental e-car-sharing scheme, that could help us to learn about the e-car, charging system, car-sharing scheme, etc.

Progress

The first step in carrying out the identified measures was the development and definition of a formal agreement between the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) and the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz (AVG) to promote the use of electric vehicles in this city.

The signature of this agreement was the settlement of the foundations of a joint bid to promote the introduction of electric vehicles in Vitoria-Gasteiz as a means of improving energy efficiency in transport. Having reached this important preliminary point, we began to work on achieving the objectives:

• Electromobility Centre
  EVE and AVG began looking for a suitable location for the electro-mobility Centre, taking into account the initial idea that it should be located in a central plot and with a design that would allow a total integration with the surroundings.
  Once identified the location, the next step was the definition and development of the tender process for drafting the project and subsequently contracting and starting the site arrangement.
  Over the last year, the construction of electric Mobility Centre was carried out and since its inauguration have not stopped performing different activities for advertising it among the citizens of Vitoria-Gasteiz, as the Electromobility Centre has the objective of serving as a showcase and information centre about electric vehicles and as a symbol of a modern city committed to change. For these reasons, it has the following functions: Citizen Information Centre on EVs, and permanent exhibition of EVs.
• Charging points for EVs
  As in the previous case, the decision on the location of charging points for the e-car sharing service was taken jointly between EVE and AVG.
  Additionally, and in order to give an additional service to the Vitoria-Gasteiz electric vehicles users, IBIL, MANAGER ELECTRIC VEHICLE LOADS SA (IBIL) was put in charge for the installation and the operation of public charging points.
  With the experience gained with the installation of charging points for different private companies, IBIL has developed the skills to install a network of public charging points. In this way and in collaboration with the municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the past year IBIL has been able to install 10 additional public charging points throughout Vitoria-Gasteiz.
• E-car sharing
  At the purpose of implementing the service, the first step was the creation of the company IBILEK ELECTRIC VEHICLE CAR-SHARING, SA (IBILEK). This step took several months of hard work in which the feasibility study and the design of the service were carried out.

At the same time, and together with the local authorities, the locations of the three stations that were implemented in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz were defined.

Outcomes

As a result of the measure, we managed to promote introduction of electric vehicles in Vitoria-Gasteiz as a means of improving energy efficiency in transport. In addition, we can highlight the following achievements:

• Implementation of 3 e-car sharing service stations. We installed logistics for the e-car sharing service along the city. In order to provide the best service to the citizens, for location of these bases various aspects such as location of public parks, city centres, shopping centres, public transport, etc. were taken into account.
• Charging points for Evs. Besides charging points installed for the e-car sharing, 10 additional public charging points were installed for electric vehicle users.
• Electromobility Centre: An innovative centre to serve as a showcase and information centre for electric vehicles was established as a symbol of a modern city, committed to change.
• 6 electric vehicles for e-car sharing services (4 pure EV and 2 Plug-in Hybrid EV).
• 8 parking places in the city center with a public recharging points.

Thanks to the agreement signed between EVE and the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz on 17 February 2012, the ElectroMobility Centre will be available for the citizens for at least the next four years. Nevertheless, for charging points and e-car sharing service, according to the agreement, will be offered over the next 25 years.