Innovation competition for street charging of electric cars

Today, there are several challenges with street charging of electric cars. There is a shortage of public space and electric poles are bulky and expensive. But it is also about lack of capacity in the electricity grid, high costs for ground work and expensive grid connections with long lead times.

Vinnova, together with Kista Science City and the City of Stockholm, wants to change that with the help of an innovation competition.

─ The goal of the innovation competition is to develop solutions that, among other things, minimize the impact on public spaces, improve the charging infrastructure's function and accessibility adaptation and are possible to scale up, says Nils Blom, project manager and initiator of the competition at the Traffic Office in Stockholm.

─ Vinnova's support and funding will contribute to the winning solutions reaching the streets, being tested and demonstrated in a real street environment. As an innovation authority, we also want to contribute to the solutions being adapted and tested for more cities, and that the lessons are learned so that, if necessary, there is also a screw in regulations and processes, says Malin Eklund, responsible for the innovation competition at Vinnova.

Solutions that address these challenges can increase the pace of expansion of public charging options for electric cars in urban environments. The competition is based on Stockholm's street environment, but a crucial aspect for success is solutions that can be quickly spread to and implemented in all cities in Sweden.

─ Vinnova ensures a national approach, as in addition to support the winner in Stockholm, we also give other cities the opportunity to apply for funding and test solutions on their streets, says Malin Eklund.

─ We must also bear in mind that our street environments must provide space for a variety of activities and needs. Vinnova wants the space between the houses to be used in a flexible way with quick adaptation to our needs today and in the future. Improved opportunities for street charging of electric vehicles are such a need, adds Malin Eklund.

More about the innovation competition

• The competition is open to everyone, but is aimed primarily at companies and organizations
• Information meetings are held June 1 and June 22, at 9-10
• The last day for submitting competition entries is 30 June
• Finalists will be announced on August 18
• Winning funding be chosen at an event in Kista on 31 August
• The winner will be chosen by a jury consisting of representatives from the City of Stockholm, Kista Science City, Vinnova, Svenska Bostäder, the City of Gothenburg and the City of Trollhättan.

Prices

• The first prize is SEK 100,000 from the City of Stockholm and a test and demo package from Kista Science City (value SEK 100,000) to test the solution in a street environment in Stockholm's inner city
• First- to third-prize winners will have the opportunity to apply for support from Vinnova for further development of their solution and test in a street environment. A total of SEK 1 million is set aside for support and further development.

Criteria for competition entries

1. Minimize the investment cost
2. Shorten implementation time
3. Minimal impact on public space
4. Charging infrastructure function and accessibility adaptation
5. Business model and scalability

Bonus: Opportunity for plug & charge

Do you want to compete?

More information is available from Kista Science City:

• General information about the innovation competition
• Participate in the competition and information meetings - instructions and links