future can be created, reflecting on the role of cities and the service sector. “Many of our European cities have un- derground and multistorey carparks, yet space is so valuable, we must use these in more flexible and practical ways,” said Dias. Empark is now developing mobility hubs by integrating car sharing, scooter and bike sharing and recharging facilities in existing parking spaces. In June 2021, the first Tel- park mobility hub opened at Madrid’s Plaza Colón. It has 30 charging points as well as seven Mobility Players: they include car sharing, scooter sharing and bike compa- nies. New Telpark mobility hubs are planned in Bilbao, San Sebastian and Barcelona. “If cities continue to offer free or low cost on-street parking, such mobility hubs will not fulfill their potential, we must create the economic models which incentivize new parking offerings,” asserted Dias. Electrifying the car park Accommodating electromobility is a key challenge for the parking sector and cities. By 2030, 30 percent of cars sold will be BEV. As the electrification of vehicles grows, parking services must be able to keep pace with these trends if it is to support Europe’s transition away from combustion vehicles. That means there has to be a reliable infra- structure together with an appropriated pricing structure and support from the reg- ulators to create this environment. “We have to adapt our assets to accom- modate this EV wave, easing access to relia- ble charging, while creating an appropriate pricing structure,” said Olivier Challe, Head of EV Charging Strategy at Indigo. He says, that the post covid world is changing: Challe thinks, that the 15-minute is coming to life with a need of 24/7 proximity services. The purpose of Indigo is to open the space for peaceful city motion. Challe outlined how off-street parking must adapt to offer “park and charge” ser- vices. Indeed, Indigo is developing a month- ly subscription tariff to streamline usage, as well as fast-charging hubs in the city centre to accommodate taxis and logistics vehicles. Combining parking and transport hubs Improving parking offers at transport hubs such as train stations and airports is critical to seamless transit. However, to achieve this goal improvements integrating the mobility system are often required in many transport hubs. Rome-Fiumicino Airport has trans- formed its parking offer, integrating on -and off- street and multilevel parking into a digi- tal access-controlled service management mobility model. Where previously vehicles had free roam over the airport’s parking fa- cilities and road network, the new model separates and controls transit allowing only public vehicles adjacent to the terminal and permitting private cars on a parallel route controlling the stay over time. The frame- work is managed through a digital control centre, overseeing an access, permit and payment system. This was also relayed to users through a comprehensive communi- cation campaign. This management model could be particularly suitable for integrated traffic and mobility schemes in small and medium sized urban centres combining UVARS and parking with accessibility, con- gestion and urban quality strategies. “The new system brought order to the parking offering, streamlining traffic flow,” said Fraccari. Parking in train stations is also being improved to enhance access. In Germany DB BahnPark is developing parking facili- ties which are central transfer hubs for vari- ous transport services or forms of mobility form large, medium and small sized cities. “We are supporting all efforts to make sus- tainable mobility strategies successful, by reducing car parking spaces and making space for car sharing, bike parking and other more environmentally friendly options,” said Torsten Sprengel, CEO of DB Bahn- Park. At the end of the Webinar, Interparking CEO Roland Cracco highlighted the up- coming EPA Congress & Exhibition as a CO2 neutral congress and talked about the program. You find more details about the n EPA Congress on pages 22/23. Parking trend international no. 1-2022 31 31