LIS award procedure Concession procedure for public charging infrastructure

The electrification of transportation requires a comprehensive and needs-based charging infrastructure. In addition to private actors and property owners, cities such as Hamburg play a central role. Because they have authority over public road space, cities can establish key framework conditions for the expansion of the charging infrastructure and regulate the “how,” “where,”“by whom,” and “how quickly” of the expansion.

While Hamburg operated under a special-use model until the end of 2023—under which charging station operators could apply for locations on a first-come, first-served basis via special-use applications with applicable ancillary provisions and no upper limit—the system was subsequently converted to a concession model. To this end, hysolutions first determined the need for charging infrastructure in public spaces, which was then distributed across the city via designated zones. To prepare for an orderly process, a transitional phase took effect for 2024, during which charging station operators could submit applications—still on a first-come, first-served basis but within fixed quotas and designated zones.

Since early 2025, a concession model has been in effect, under which six operators are expanding and operating the charging infrastructure in Hamburg. Approximately 4,000 charging points will be operated during the 30-month expansion phase through mid-2027. The concession holders may then operate these exclusively in public spaces until mid-2035. In this context, AC charging points will predominantly be installed as dual-site locations (at least 4 charging points) across the city. The concession agreements specify the expansion pace, requirements for the technical availability of the charging infrastructure, the provision of usage data to a municipal data hub, and the installation of parking space sensors.

Together with the Ministry of Economics, Labor, and Innovation (BWAI) and an expert in public procurement law, hysolutions developed the tender documents for the Europe-wide call for bids regarding the expansion and operation of the public charging infrastructure in Hamburg. This was preceded by the development of the substantive framework parameters for the tender. In this process, hysolutions served as a key driving force and, in coordination with the BWI, drafted key elements of the strategic concepts.