Municipalities and authorities are urged to accelerate preparations for the implementation of Electric Vehicle Charging Plans (EVCPs) and the successful completion of procurement and installation of electric chargers.

During the period 2021–2022, nearly all municipalities in Greece successfully completed their Electric Vehicle Charging Plans (EVCPs) as an initial effort to promote electromobility in a coordinated manner at the national level. This initiative aligns with broader Green Deal policies aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector. The EVCPs aimed to map out public space locations for the installation of publicly accessible electric chargers traffic and point-of-interest proximity, population density, parking regulations.

These factors were considered in relation to the future usage profile of each charger and its operational characteristics.

Now, following the recently published Ministerial Decision 96401 (April 7), municipalities and other local authorities must swiftly and efficiently prepare for the next phase before beginning the tendering process for charger procurement and installation.

This preparation involves thorough examination of several critical factors, including:

• licensing issues for charging spots,
• ownership status of installation sites,
• electric power supply requirements, and
• pricing policies

to ensure proper planning that addresses potential bureaucratic or operational challenges that could hinder implementation.

More specifically, municipalities must immediately begin the designation of charging locations, which includes on-site inspections and evaluations based on current legal constraints (such as traffic regulations and road safety codes). They must then initiate the approval procedures through relevant councils and authorities. The goal is to guarantee that charging activities at these locations can occur safely and legally from a traffic standpoint.

At the same time, a preliminary assessment should be carried out to identify key factors regarding the connection of chargers to the power grid. Even at a basic level, this helps lay the groundwork for a realistic cost estimate of the project. Notably, the cooperation of the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO) is essential. Although this responsibility might not initially fall directly on municipalities, significant and unforeseen cost deviations from initial estimates could jeopardize the project’s completion by the contractor—potentially rendering years of municipal planning fruitless.

It is therefore crucial that all levels of governance and decision-making establish a shared roadmap for electromobility. This roadmap should be communicated to all involved stakeholders, ensuring that all necessary steps for the rational and timely preparation of municipalities are taken. This will help avoid risks that could impact the achievement of national environmental goals.

The company “Lever – Development Consultants S.A.”, which supported a significant number of municipalities in the previous EVCP phase, is once again available to assist municipalities
in successfully completing this next stage of the project.