ProCirc

Electric Vehicle Chargers

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The need for change in Electric Vehicle Chargers 

The demand for electric vehicle chargers (EVC) is experiencing a steady rise, driven by the ongoing electrification of the automotive industry. While EVs currently make up a small portion of the overall market, it is expected that their numbers will grow rapidly. This growth can be attributed to various factors, including political incentives and an increasing awareness of the pressing climate crisis. As a result, the need for accessible and efficient EVC infrastructure is becoming increasingly crucial to support the widespread adoption of EVs. 

According to Open Charge Map, serval European countries, including Norway, Iceland, Sweden and the Netherlands lead the way when it comes to EVs sold compared to the total of all passenger cars on the road. China, Germany, the EU, and the US are at the top regarding pure sales volume (https://openchargemap.org/site/country). Looking ahead, by 2030, it is estimated that Europe will require approximately 2.9 million EVCs to meet the increasing demand.

The fast-growing market for EVCs has led to increased material flows and environmental impacts during their production. While electric vehicles are seen as a "green" alternative, it's important not to overlook or downplay their environmental footprint. It is necessary to consider the entire lifecycle of EVs, including the manufacturing and disposal stages, to fully understand and address their environmental impacts

The City of Malmö, Rijkswaterstaat and Circular Flanders, as partners of the Interreg NSR ProCirc project, want to nudge the EVC market into becoming more circular. By producing a Joint Statement of Demand (JSD), consisting of common demands on EVCs when procuring, we would like to join forces with other organizations – public and private ones, as well as with the industry – to set a standard for circular EVCs.

Download the draft Joint Statement of Demand on Circular Electrical Vehicle Chargers

Meetings and workshops during 2023

  • The process stared with a webinar on February 2nd, 2023. During the webinar, participants were introduced to the concept of JSD and the importance of focusing on the circular economy in EVC infrastructure. Despite EVCs being considered a green investment in the energy transition, the webinar emphasized the need to consider the entire lifecycle of EVC systems and address their environmental impacts.

The Belgian postal service company, bpost, shared their experiences and lessons learned from the pre-tender phase of procuring EVCs. They conducted an extensive investigation to understand the needs and requirements of EVCs. While circularity was not the primary focus of the procurement, bpost expressed their intention to include sustainability and circular criteria in the tender process. These criteria may include aspects such as sustainable design and production, extending the lifespan of EVCs, recycling and reuse practices, sustainable sourcing, and promoting employment opportunities for individuals with a distance to the labor market.

Powerstation, a start-up company in the EVC industry, provided valuable insights during the webinar regarding the potential for creating a more circular EVC. Although they are in the early stages of their circular EVC development, they have conducted extensive research in the field. Their findings suggest several possibilities for achieving circularity, such as using higher quality and locally sourced materials, increasing the number of recyclable materials in EVCs, and implementing repair and maintenance practices to fix broken components instead of replacing the entire unit.

The webinar conducted a first workshop based on the Circular Flanders Circular Ambition Chart. The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to engage in a discussion and brainstorming session regarding the potential and barriers of circularity in EVCs. Attendees explored the possibilities and challenges associated with implementing circular practices in the EVC industry, aiming to identify innovative solutions and strategies.

Access the recording here.

  • The second webinar and workshop were held on March 23rd, 2023. The webinar started off with a brief summary on the JSD on EVC process.

Jaap Burger and Luka De Bruyckere from ECOS presented their guide to local authorities on smart charging. You find the guide via the link https://ecostandard.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ECOS-RAP-Standards-for-EV-smart-charging.pdf. The guide aims to assist local authorities in planning future-proof charging infrastructure in cities. It provides an overview of existing and developing standards in the field and offers guidance on how authorities can prepare their infrastructure for future advancements. Luka and Jaap also gave their perspectives on circular aspects of EVC procurement and provided insights on possible directions for asking specific requirements. The importance of upgradable software and sufficient memory capacity to ensure the longevity and adaptability of EVCs was emphasized. Furthermore, they highlighted previously discussed topics from the initial meeting, such as modular design for reparability and minimizing resource usage.

The second webinar was followed by a workshop where the JSD was further developed. During the workshop, participants revisited the information gathered from the first workshop and continued to refine and shape the JSD. The workshop played a crucial role in advancing the JSD to its current stage of development.

Access the recording here.

  • A dedicated market dialogue workshop was held on April 24th, 2023. The market dialogue started with a brief summary of the JSD on EVCs process and focussed on exploring the current market offerings of EVC suppliers. Several presentations were given by industry experts and EVC suppliers, including Claudio Geyken from RiDERgy GmbH, Jan Samal from Nimbee, Toby Hörnlein from Elonroad, Kurt Högnelid from Waybler AB, Mark van Eijk from Alfen, Johan Sjoberg from ChargeNode and Peter Goertzen from CTEK

Access the recording of the pitches from the EVC companies here.

The market dialogue also included group discussions between public buyers and suppliers in breakout rooms, where they had the opportunity to engage in discussions specifically related to circular EVC topics. This interactive session provided a platform for meaningful exchanges and collaborative exploration of circular solutions within the EVC market.

Topics discussed during the market dialogue

  • What are the primary obstacles to increasing sustainability or circularity within the EVC supply chain?
  • Are the objectives and criteria in public sector tenders aligned with market capabilities?
  • How the public sector use procurement to incentivize sustainability in the EVC sector?
  • Have you had any experience(s), both positive and negative, in considering or addressing the following aspects of EVC circularity?
    1. Smart grid solution
    2. Upgradability, modularity, reparability and end of life/take back systems
    3. Multifunctionality
    4. Recycled content
    5. Originality of material, minerals, and metals. Traceability. Material passport.

Lessons learned

We were aware from the start that the EVC market might be less mature in terms of their ability to meet circular asks and requirements compared to the other two product categories in the Joint Statement of Demand (JSD), namely working clothes and furniture. During our research, we observed that there were only a few circular requirements being asked in EVC tenders. However, throughout our engagement with various stakeholders in the EV and sustainability field, we consistently received feedback that it is the right time to initiate circular demand in the procurement of  EVC's.

Throughout the JSD process, we have gained valuable insights in several areas:

Market readiness

In our efforts to evaluate the industry's preparedness and openness to circular aspects in EVC procurement, we encountered challenges in recruiting EVC companies for the market engagement meeting. Initially, we requested examples of how these companies are integrating circular aspects into their operations during the pitch at the event. However, we did not receive any company sign-ups, prompting us to shift the focus to sustainable aspects instead.

The market engagement event highlighted the current state of market readiness for circular EV chargers, revealing that it is still in its early stages. EVC companies emphasized the importance of clean energy at charging stations and the EVC infrastructure as a crucial component of the energy transition. Their primary focus lies in smart and flexible charging solutions and grid balancing. It became evident that circular aspects have not received significant attention in this sector, both from the EVC companies themselves and procuring organizations.

Although some companies did mention aspects related to resources, such as using durable materials, adopting innovative solutions to reduce material usage, and exploring mobile charging options, circular business models and take-back systems.

This indicates a clear opportunity for further exploration and development of circular aspects within the EV charger industry. It also highlights the need for greater awareness and engagement from both EVC companies and procuring organizations to foster the adoption of circular practices. During our assessment, we encountered limited examples of circular business models in the EVC industry. However, one notable approach we observed was the implementation of take-back systems. Take-back systems involve creating mechanisms for the return and recycling of EVC components and materials at the end of their lifecycle. By incorporating take-back systems, EVC companies can recover valuable resources, minimize waste, and reduce environmental impact.

Willingness of procuring organisations to adopt circular asks in EVC tenders

In the realm of EVC tenders, there is a growing recognition of the importance of integrating circular asks. However, several factors impede the willingness of including circular requirements into contracts.

One significant challenge is the lack of time and knowledge. The urgency to establish EVC infrastructure promptly often leaves limited room for extensive research and understanding of circular practices. Additionally, relevant information and best practices are scattered, making it challenging for procurers to access and apply them effectively.

Another obstacle is the absence of specific Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria tailored to EVC. While other sectors may offer inspiration, the absence of dedicated guidelines tailored to EVC infrastructure procurement makes it more difficult for procuring organizations to incorporate circular asks.

Furthermore, different countries interpret circularity differently, leading to inconsistencies in requirements. For instance, Germany and Belgium may have distinct systems and expectations, hindering the establishment of a unified approach to circular asks in EVC tenders. Harmonizing and aligning these requirements across countries would facilitate a more consistent and effective adoption of circular principles.

To address these challenges, collaborative efforts are necessary. Sharing knowledge and experiences among procurers, industry experts, and policymakers can help bridge the information gap and foster a collective understanding of circularity in EVC procurement. Creating dedicated GPP criteria for EVC infrastructure, inspired by successful practices from various sectors, can provide a framework for procurers to incorporate circular asks effectively.

During the process we also met with network/support organisations that work with EVC in various ways and they have encouraged our process and strengthen our beliefs that the EVC industry can adopt more circular models.

Circular aspects

When discussing circular possibilities in procuring EVCs, we've noticed suppliers often prioritize the energy side over the material side. While energy efficiency is important, circularity also involves material efficiency and responsible end-of-life management. Suppliers should consider designing for durability, reparability, and recyclability. Procuring organizations can incentivize this by including material-related requirements in tenders and fostering collaboration among suppliers. A balanced approach that addresses both energy and material aspects is necessary for a comprehensive circular solution in EV charger procurement.

Considering factors like upgradable software, memory capacity, and modular design to enhance circularity in EVCs.

The draft Joint Statement of Demand EVC included these aspects and ambitions. 

If you want to take action right away; use these documents as inspiration

Why wasn’t it finalized?

Due to Interregs North Seas overspending, the ProCirc project got notice that there would be a reduction in co-funding. As a result, all activities were put on hold for a certain period of time. Unfortunately, this interruption occurred just as the JSD for EVCs was about to commence, causing a delay of several months in our planned activities. Additionally, the decreased budget resulted in fewer hours available to dedicate to the process. From the outset, we were aware that the EVC product category was less mature in terms of circular aspects, and the market readiness was not as developed compared to other product categories like textiles and furniture.

Which organisations were involved?

The following organisations were involved:

City of Malmö, Rijkswaterstaat, Circular Flanders managed the process. The market engagement event was done in collaboration with ICLEI.

During our events ECOS and RAP presented at the second seminar and also gave input to the JSD later in the process. b-post and Power station presented during the first seminar.  

During the market engagement event RiDERgy GmbH, Nimbee, Elonroad, Waybler AB, CTEK and ChargeNode presented their EVC companies.

Organisations joining meetings and giving input to JSD:

City of Göteborg

Pianoo NL

Rudpedersen

Adda

Aalborg municipality

Helsinki municipality

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Netherlands

Valuation Office Agency UK

DFÖ Norway

Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities

Bureaugijs NL

Transport for London

Hitachi

Eways

Blitzpower

Onestop UK

Oslo municipality

Sweco Belgium

IDC

Gate21

NKL Nederland

The Ministry of Defence in the Netherlands

Cenex Nederland

KPMG UK