Could you provide the following information: 1aWho made the decision to sell off London's EV charging network to Source London and who was required to sign off on the sale in 2014? 1bWhat was the value of the sale? 1cWhat are the headline terms of the contract? 1dHow many points were included? 1eHow were spaces allocated - on a lease or licence, through TFL or the local councils? 1fHow long are the contracts for spaces (if they are not the same the shortest and longest will do). 1gWhat are the contract terms relating to how Source London can charge its customers? 2.Who at Transport for London today, is responsible for making decisions on EV charging points? (please provide contact details). 3aWho are the people responsible now for the future planning of ALL EV charging points in London 3bWho is leading that department and who are the main decision makers? (Please provide contact details). 3cWhat is the criterion used to allocate spaces ? 3dHow are locations allocated between energy providers? 3fWhat length of contract is offered? 4a.Who at TFL, today, liaises with Westminster Council and Camden Council on EV charging points and locations? 4bPlease provide the contact details of those personnel at TFL, Westminster and Camden.

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Our Ref:         FOI-0543-2021

Thank you for your request received on 2 July 2020 asking for information about electric vehicle (EV) charging points across London.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we hold some of the information you require. You asked:

1a Who made the decision to sell off London's EV charging network to Source London and who was required to sign off on the sale in 2014?

The Source London EV charging scheme was established by the Mayor and TfL in May 2011. The scheme brought together a number of disparate charging networks from across the Greater London area to form a single, publicly accessible charging network for EV drivers. Source London was structured as a consortium of boroughs and private sector partners who installed and owned the scheme charge points.

From 2011 to 2014 TfL acted as the operator of the scheme, with responsibility for managing the Source London consortium and providing back office systems and services for members via a sponsorship agreement with Siemens. Under the stewardship of TfL the scheme grew from around 200 charging points in 2011 to over 1,400 in 2014.

In April 2013, the Mayor’s Office endorsed TfL’s recommendation to transition the scheme to a third party by summer 2014. In December 2013, following a competitive procurement process, TfL awarded the contract for the purchase of the Source London scheme to IER Bolloré. IER Bolloré (via the subsidiary BPL) took over management of Source London on 1 September 2014.

1b What was the value of the sale?

£1 million.

1c What are the headline terms of the contract?

After 1 September 2014, TfL no longer had any role in the management or administration of the scheme following its transition to BPL.

1d How many points were included?

There were over 1400 charge points in the Source London network in September 2014.

1e How were spaces allocated - on a lease or licence, through TFL or the local councils?

Source London was originally established by bringing together a consortium of partners including boroughs and private landowners. Under the terms of this partnership, the landowner selected suitable sites and could obtain match funding from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (via TfL) to install charging infrastructure.

Once IER took over the management and operation of Source London, IER was responsible for liaising with existing and new landowners to secure sites for charging infrastructure. Source London pay landowners an annual site fee for each dedicated parking space provided for their charge points.

1f How long are the contracts for spaces (if they are not the same the shortest and longest will do)

The length of each contract between Source London and individual landowners is agreed between the two parties. TfL does not have oversight of these details.

1g What are the contract terms relating to how Source London can charge its customers?

IER took over the management and operation of Source London in 2014. TfL had no ongoing contract with IER regarding the management of Source London network after this date. As such there were no contract terms relating to how Source London can charge its customers.

2. Who at Transport for London today, is responsible for making decisions on EV charging points? (please provide contact details).

There is not one sole person responsible for making decisions on EV charging points. TfL works with London Councils and local authorities to make decisions on charging points.

TfL leads on the delivery of rapid charge points across London and has set up a procurement framework for TfL and local authorities to use, to appoint charge point operators.

For the delivery of slow and fast charge points through the Go Ultra Low City Scheme, TfL set up a procurement framework for local authorities to be able to appoint charge point operators. London Councils coordinates this work and TfL supports.

Rhona Munck, Strategy and Planning Manager, leads on EVs at TfL. Please submit any queries through our Customer Contact Centre: https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/. This ensures that a response can be provided within our service level agreements and prevents any queries being missed. They can then be directed to the necessary team.

3a Who are the people responsible now for the future planning of ALL EV charging points in London

TfL, London Councils and local authorities in London work together to plan for future EV charging point delivery and find suitable locations to install charge points.

The Mayor and TfL convened the Electric Vehicle Taskforce in May 2018 to help unlock barriers to expanding charging infrastructure and accelerating the switch to EVs in the Capital. The Taskforce brought together key industry experts and stakeholders from business, energy, infrastructure, Government and London boroughs to overcome charging infrastructure challenges with the aim of stimulating the market and accelerating the switch to EVs. The result of this was the publication, in June 2019, of the London Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure Delivery Plan (http://lruc.content.tfl.gov.uk/london-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-taskforce-delivery-plan.pdf)  which sets out how infrastructure will be provided, and other conditions created to help achieve the goal of all cars and vans on London’s roads being zero emission from 2030. The delivery plan included a number of commitments from both the public and private sector, gathered in a charter, to support the roll-out of infrastructure and electric vehicles.

One of the ‘enablers’ identified in the plan was a pan London coordination function. This has now been established at London Councils and provides pan-London oversight and support for charge point installation. This includes sharing knowledge and information, supporting borough delivery, overseeing the delivery of the Go Ultra Low Cities Scheme (GULCS) programme, identifying funding opportunities and monitoring usage data. This is joint funded by TfL and London Councils.

3b Who is leading that department and who are the main decision makers?  (Please provide contact details).

The lead for the Electric Vehicle coordination function at London Councils is Claudia Corrigan, the GULCS senior lead. Please direct all queries to London Councils: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/who-we-are/contact-us. Please see above regarding a contact for TfL.

3c What is the criterion used to allocate spaces ?

TfL has published guidance (London’s Electric Vehicle Charge Point Installation Guidance: http://lruc.content.tfl.gov.uk/london-electric-vehicle-charge-point-installation-guidance-december-2019.pdf) on where to install charge points.

The London Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Delivery Plan (http://lruc.content.tfl.gov.uk/london-electric-vehicle-infrastructure-taskforce-delivery-plan.pdf) set out predictions for charge point demand up until 2025. This work identified areas to deploy charge points, including where rapid hubs should be located.

For rapid charge point installation, TfL worked with boroughs and private landowners to identify suitable locations, and also identified locations on its own land. These were then assessed against a range of criteria including potential demand and access to charge point.

For slow and fast charge point installations, each individual borough or landowner applies their own criteria for identifying locations to deliver charge points and allocating designated parking spaces for these. Earlier this year London Councils launched a webpage to direct London residents to borough processes to request an on-street charge point near to where they live. This can be found here: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/our-key-themes/transport/electric-vehicle-charging/suggest-location-ev-charge-point.

3d How are locations allocated between energy providers?

Energy is provided to each site by the designated Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for the location. For the majority of London, this is UK Power Networks (UKPN), with Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks operating in parts of west London.

Charge point operators are selected for each site by the landowner, usually through a competitive procurement process. TfL has created two procurement frameworks for local authorities to procure slow-fast (up to 22kWh) and rapid (up to 50kWh) charge points. These frameworks have been used by TfL and many London boroughs to appoint charge point operators.

3f What length of contract is offered?

The length of contracts for charge points varies. Generally, for rapid charge points procured through the TfL Raid Charge Point procurement framework, contracts are eight years long with an option for an extension of two years.

For slow and fast charge points procured through TfL’s Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Framework, the minimum call-off term is 12 months up to a maximum of five years. Local authorities have the discretion to extend contracts if they wish to.

4a Who at TFL, today, liaises with Westminster Council and Camden Council on EV charging points and locations?
4b Please provide the contact details of those personnel at TFL, Westminster and Camden.

TfL liaises with Westminster Council and Camden Council on locations for the delivery of rapid charge points through its Rapid Charge Point Programme. The team can be reached at [email protected].

Claudia Corrigan, GULCS Senior Lead at London Councils liaises with Westminster Council and Camden Council on the delivery of on-street residential charge points.

Please see above regarding contact details for TfL and London Councils. Please direct queries to Westminster Council and Camden Council directly:

https://www.westminster.gov.uk/contact
https://www.camden.gov.uk/contact-camden

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please feel free to contact me.

The impact of current circumstances on TfL’s resources means we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present.
 
Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.

Yours sincerely

Gemma Jacob
Senior FOI Case Officer
FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London

[email protected]

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