Public procurement of electric vehicles as a way to support a market: examples from Sweden

Abstract

Electric vehicles (EV) are increasingly seen as a desirable sustainable solution for the transport sector, and public procurement is often highlighted as one tool to stimulate a market. In this article we analyze the role of Swedish municipalities in relation to public procurement and especially whether and in such case how municipalities in Sweden use public procurement as an instrument to enhance a market for EVs. The strategy in both municipalities was to let the municipal organization act as role models, create buying power and develop a secondhand market for EVs. The strategy to speed up diffusion within the municipal organization was through information and test-driving and in dialogue with the administration solve problems that arise. A potential improvement of the diffusion process would be to find ways to share the extra cost of an EV.