Ljubljana inks concession agreement for electric car sharing service

The city of Ljubljana and Avant Car have signed a concession agreement to establish and manage a public electric vehicle rental and sharing system in the city for 20 years. The concession further strengthens the commitment of Slovenia’s capital to carbon neutrality in the field of sustainable mobility, according to city authorities.

The deal now offers citizens an improved, sustainably oriented service for moving around Ljubljana and beyond, contributing to changes in travel habits, cleaner air, a reduced need for private vehicles, the development of e-mobility, and quality of life, the Urban Municipality of Ljubljana stressed.

The city is further developing the good practices of the last decade, when it piloted a system for sharing electric vehicles.

According to research, one Avant2Go location with three vehicles can replace up to thirty privately owned cars, which are, on average, idle more than 90% of the time.

The city will invest EUR 11.4 million in the PPP

The estimated financial contribution of the city to this public-private partnership (PPP) currently amounts to EUR 11.4 million over the 20-year project. Nearly EUR 11 million accounts for the abolition of parking fees for individual parking spaces, while the remainder relates to lower fees for installing electric chargers and parking maintenance.

The concessionaire’s investment amounts to EUR 18.7 million, out of which EUR 6.2 million in the first year of the agreement, along with a concession fee of EUR 210 per parking space annually, which will begin to be charged in 2027, the city explained.

The Avant2Go service operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The service already has more than 80,000 registered users.

In the territory of the Urban Municipality of Ljubljana, there will be 400 parking spaces for vehicle sharing, 400 EVs, and 160 charging points. Out of these, 200 parking spaces, 200 vehicles, and 40 charging points will be available at the start of the project.

Janković: Car sharing is an excellent solution for Ljubljana

The agreement was signed by Mayor Zoran Janković and Avant Car CEO Gašper Žvan.

The mayor said that car sharing is an excellent solution for Ljubljana, as it can reduce the number of privately owned vehicles and road congestion.

“I am convinced that our residents will discover that Ljubljana offers so many efficient and high-quality mobility options that they will give up at least their third and second cars and travel through the city in a more sustainable manner,” he pointed out.

Avant Car founder Matej Čer said that they want to establish a mobility infrastructure that can help as many people.

The company does this through technologically supported solutions, taking into account sustainability criteria, simple usability, and wide accessibility, he added.