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Steering public transport procurement towards Clean Vehicles Directive
Published on 29 November 2021
Finland
Länsi-Suomi
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The Clean Vehicles Directive (CVD) came into effect in August 2021 and set the minimum requirements in public procurements on the number of clean vehicles and especially fully electric vehicles.
In the city of Turku, public transport is procured from several private bus operators, and meeting the requirements of the directive requires adjusting the procurement process. Operation contracts are divided into several packages consisting of the operation of one or more bus lines.
Despite the rapid technical development and decreasing cost, e-buses have still limitations regarding range and lifetime costs. This leads to e-buses being financially and technically feasible on many bus lines but not all of them. Due to this, Turku Region Public Transport Föli did not set minimum requirements for e-buses in the tenders but instead implemented a points system where CVD compatible buses are awarded extra points. This gives the tenderers the possibility to analyze the procured bus line and evaluate how suitable it is to be operated with e-buses.
The points system was first introduced in May 2020 and has been used in every procurement since. The practice has been very successful, the number of e-buses contracted has met the upcoming directive requirements and the price of operating contracts has not increased but in fact, decreased. Operating contracts are tendered using this points system as the previous contracts expire, so the change will happen in the course of several years.
In the city of Turku, public transport is procured from several private bus operators, and meeting the requirements of the directive requires adjusting the procurement process. Operation contracts are divided into several packages consisting of the operation of one or more bus lines.
Despite the rapid technical development and decreasing cost, e-buses have still limitations regarding range and lifetime costs. This leads to e-buses being financially and technically feasible on many bus lines but not all of them. Due to this, Turku Region Public Transport Föli did not set minimum requirements for e-buses in the tenders but instead implemented a points system where CVD compatible buses are awarded extra points. This gives the tenderers the possibility to analyze the procured bus line and evaluate how suitable it is to be operated with e-buses.
The points system was first introduced in May 2020 and has been used in every procurement since. The practice has been very successful, the number of e-buses contracted has met the upcoming directive requirements and the price of operating contracts has not increased but in fact, decreased. Operating contracts are tendered using this points system as the previous contracts expire, so the change will happen in the course of several years.
Expert opinion
The Clean Vehicles Directive aims to promote clean cars, vans, trucks, and buses in public procurement, with national targets set as a minimum percentage of clean vehicles procured, including sub-targets for clean buses and zero-emission buses. Meeting these targets will require national and regional procurement rules, policies, and initiatives to be revised to enable the targets to be met. This practice shows an approach which already demonstrates very good success by amending procurement rules to give additional points to vehicles that meet the requirements, while also allowing tenders to assess where e-buses are best, tacking account of limitations such as range and charging infrastructure. This relatively simple, but impactful, change can provide inspiration to other regions as they adapt their own frameworks.
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
The practice was implemented as internal development with Föli's own personnel and existing resources. Implementing the practice did not require additional funding and did not raise the cost of procured operation, either.
Evidence of success
After this practice was implemented, the share of e-buses in tenders has increased significantly and the number of e-buses in operation went from 6 to 61 e-buses. However, this has not led to higher contract prices, but on the contrary, the new prices have been 5-10 % cheaper than the old contracts.
The results are encouraging, and at the moment it seems that no new changes in the procurement are needed in order to achieve the requirements of CVD and local climate strategies.
The results are encouraging, and at the moment it seems that no new changes in the procurement are needed in order to achieve the requirements of CVD and local climate strategies.
Potential for learning or transfer
This practice is transferrable to other regions where public transport operation is procured using competitive bidding. In addition to the price, extra points are awarded for each CVD compliant bus offered. In the points system, points for vehicles are awarded based on whether the offered vehicle is zero or low-emission and whether it is new or used.
By using this kind of incentive instead of an absolute e-bus requirement, the transition can be done on market terms, allowing operators to offer electric buses on the routes where they think they are best suited. As experience from Turku shows, this can lead to good results and even decreased costs.
By using this kind of incentive instead of an absolute e-bus requirement, the transition can be done on market terms, allowing operators to offer electric buses on the routes where they think they are best suited. As experience from Turku shows, this can lead to good results and even decreased costs.
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Turku Region Public Transport Föli
Finland
Länsi-Suomi
Contact
Project Manager