Rome is attempting to change its approach to electric mobility planning and is directly asking citizens for a concrete contribution: to report where future electric vehicle charging infrastructure should be installed.

The initiative comes in a context where Italy’s public charging network has surpassed 70,000 units, but continues to show territorial imbalances. In the case of Rome, the complexity is driven by the size of the city and its urban structure. What makes the difference is not only the presence of infrastructure, but its actual accessibility.

Planning does not always match real usage habits, and only those who drive an electric car every day truly know where a charging station is needed.

On the Roma Capitale portal dedicated to electric mobility, a tool has been activated that allows users to send geolocated reports on locations where it would be useful to install new charging stations.

Through an online form, citizens can indicate a specific area and provide additional information: whether it is near their home or workplace, whether they already own an electric car or are considering buying one, and at what times they would have the greatest need for charging.

The procedure requires user registration and is not anonymous. The stated goal is to collect structured data to support the administration and operators in defining intervention priorities.

Alongside the reporting system, an updated map of the existing network and of infrastructure under development is also available, especially useful for those considering switching to electric mobility without having access to private parking.

The initiative is part of the broader Capitoline Plan for electric mobility, which aims to make the distribution of infrastructure more uniform and to simplify authorization procedures.

Since 2023, a new regulation has been in force updating the rules for installing charging stations on public and privately accessible land, with the aim of reducing bureaucracy and speeding up activation times compared to the past.

A shift that is more cultural than technological

The most significant aspect of the Rome experiment is not technological, but methodological. For the first time in a structured way, the administration is attempting to involve end users in the charging network planning process, recognizing that the electric transition cannot be designed solely at a central level.

Collecting direct input from motorists could help reduce allocation errors and inefficient investments, improving the alignment between infrastructure and real demand.

The appointment for industry operators is at E-Charge 2026, the trade fair dedicated to the EV charging industry and market, charging stations and infrastructure, technologies, and services, scheduled from 7 to 9 October 2026 at Bologna Exhibition Center.

It will take place within Urban Tech-The Urban Technology Show, the new event dedicated to e-mobility, traffic, commuting, security, telecom & data, and the environment.