Dokument wird geladen
Parking trend www.europeanparking.eu Publication of the European Parking Association | Volume 42 | no. 2-2026 INTERNATIONAL 10 Parking 3.0 Interview with EPA President Theo Thuis 26 European Parking Card Between Physical Security and Digital Reality 32 General Assembly 2026 A Preview of the EPA Annual Meeting in Dublin AT, BE, CY, FI, FR, DE, IE, IT, LU, PT, SK, SI, ES, NL: 8.50 Euro, HR 63.75 Kuna, GB 7.50 Pound, HU 2,550 Forint, NO 74.50 NOK, PL 39.10 Zloty, SE 80 SEK, CH 15.75 CHF
GO TICKETLESS WITH THE TECHNOLOGY LEADER Turn parking into a frictionless experience. With intelligent License Plate Recognition, our TICKETLESS SOLUTIONS enable seamless access, faster flow, and effortless payments. Boost satisfaction, strengthen your brand, and unlock new revenue potential. designa.com
EDITORIAL Dear Reader, It is a privilege to contribute this editorial as a newly appointed member of the Board of the European Parking Association. At a time when our industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace, I firmly believe that collaboration within the EPA network is more important than ever. Parking today is no longer a standalone service. It is becoming a critical foundation of a broader, connected mobility ecosystem—one that brings to- gether private operators, municipalities, govern- ments, and mobility providers to jointly support ac- cessibility, sustainability, and the future liveability of our cities. This spirit of collaboration was clearly evident at the 2nd EPA Parking Day during Intertraffic Amster- dam earlier this year. Despite a busy calendar of competing industry events, attending in person was a deliberate choice for me. EPA’s collaboration with Intertraffic provides a unique platform where oper- ators, cities, policymakers, and technology provid- ers come together to exchange ideas and align on the future of mobility, including parking manage- ment. The discussions reinforced a critical message that we must move beyond siloed approaches and embrace fully connected, data-driven ecosystems. From my perspective, technology is the key ena- bler of this shift. Digitalisation, data, and intelligent platforms are transforming how parking assets are managed and how users experience mobility. But technology alone is not the end goal; it is a means to unlock greater value. One of the most exciting developments in our sector is the emergence of urban mobility hubs. Across Europe, parking infrastructure is being reim- agined to integrate electric charging, micro-mobili- ty, logistics, and digital services into a single, multi- functional environment. This evolution reflects a broader shift from managing parking spaces to opti- mising urban space as a whole. As we look ahead, the role of parking infrastruc- ture will extend even further. Cities will increasingly operate across multiple layers—above, at, and be- low ground—where mobility, logistics, and urban life are seamlessly connected. Parking facilities will become dynamic platforms supporting everything Nicola Veratelli, CEO APCOA Group & Member of the EPA Board from last-mile delivery to community services and new forms of urban experience. This is not a distant vision. It is already happen- ing, and it underscores why engagement within or- ganisations like EPA is so important. Through its working groups, initiatives, and events, EPA pro- vides the platform for our industry to shape these changes collectively, ensuring that innovation is aligned with the needs of cities and citizens. Looking forward, I am particularly excited about the EPA Annual General Assembly in Dublin this September. It will be an important opportunity to continue these discussions in person, strengthen partnerships, and further define the role of our in- dustry in shaping future mobility. I would strongly encourage all EPA members to participate, actively engage, and contribute their perspectives. The challenges we face are complex, but the opportunities are even greater. By working together, we can ensure that parking remains not just part of the mobility system but a central driver of smarter, more sustainable, and more liveable cities. Nicola Veratelli CEO, APCOA Group Member of the EPA Board Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 3
CONTENTS Business News Lead Story Interview with Theo Thuis: “There Will Be No Booking.com of Parking” Wolfenbüttel opts for Arivo: Parking Without Barriers, Tickets or Cash Billogram: Without Modern Payment Systems, Parking Will No Longer Be Competitive from 2030 New Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport: A Car Park of Superlatives Interview with Gerald Krebs: “The Digital Revolution has Effectively Taken Place Here” PayByPhone: Parking Made Easy Designa – Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier: Complex Parking Solution for One of Europe’s Largest Inner-City Projects 10 13 14 16 18 20 21 10 6–9 EPA News “Proud Member of EPA”: Corporate Members – Join Us! List: Corporate Members of EPA Corporate Member Portraits The European Parking Card: Between Physical Security and Digital Reality EPA and UITP Sign Cooperation Agreement: Building Bridges EPA Joins ERTICO – ITS Europe: A Seat at the Mobility Table EPA Annual General Assembly: Including EU Policy Forum on Mobility & Parking in Dublin ESPORG – The European Safe & Secure Parking Organisation: Truck Parking’s Expanding Role in Europe’s Mobility Ecosystem 22 22 24 26 29 30 32 34 4 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
CONTENTS 45 46 48 49 50 51 51 r h o W , I O C T R E , h u R o k r a M , ) 2 ( k c o t s r e t t u h S © Best Practice Fastned: New Record Figures for Charging Revenue and Energy Supplied 38 Brussels Airport: New Parking Facility with 650 Charging Points and 6,000m² of Solar Panels 39 MSR-Traffic: Parking Guidance System in Emmendingen Operates on a Sustainable Power Supply 40 Innovative Products FENECON / The Mobility House Solutions: More Charging Points Despite Limited Grid Connection APCOA and MILES: Pilot Project to Ease Parking Pressure in Berlin 41 42 International Solutions Motorworld Mallorca: Exclusive Automotive Experience with Innovative Wohr Parking Systems Scheidt & Bachmann Parking Solutions: Modern Parking Facilities Enhance the Historical Experience in Swiss Open-Air Museum Helsinki Airport: Ticketless Parking Expanded HUB Italia: Advanced Parking Solution for the City of Cagliari Scan Cars: Test Runs for High-Tech Parking Enforcement in Vienna ChargePoint: World’s Fastest Standalone Charger Background Urbiotica: Pay-per-Space System in Wrocław 16 26 Prospects 43 Calendar: International Parking Events Imprint 44 30 45 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 5
BUSINESS NEWS Arrive Joins European Tech Alliance Arrive has joined the European Tech Alliance (EUTA) and is thus aligning itself with other leading European technology firms such as Spotify, Stripe, Revolut and many others in supporting the EU’s technology strategy and digital policy, which are committed to competitiveness, transparency, the rule of law and innovation. By joining EUTA, Arrive says it will advocate for policy measures that promote data-driven solutions and enable businesses to scale effec- tively. With a presence in over 90 countries and a team of 4,000 em- ployees, Arrive brings expertise in the fields of smart infrastructure and the future of urban mobility. Cameron Clayton, CEO of Arrive says: “Arrive believes that better mobility makes cities more livable and economies more efficient. Join- ing the European Tech Alliance allows us to contribute to shaping an environment that supports innovation, enables data-driven solutions, and helps European technology companies scale. We look forward to working with the European Tech Alliance and its members to advance smarter, more connected and sustainable urban mobility ecosystems.” Victoria de Posson, EUTA’s Secretary General says: “We are delight- ed to welcome Arrive to the European Tech Alliance. As a global mobil- ity platform operating at scale and improving everyday mobility across cities, Arrive brings valuable expertise to our work on digital innova- tion, smart infrastructure and the future of urban mobility.” The EUTA represents 39 European tech companies from 16 coun- tries that provide products and services to more than one billion us- ers. As companies born and bred in Europe, EUTA members have a ■ deep commitment to European citizens and values. Arrive Launches EasyPark in Poland The international mobility platform Arrive One advantage for users of the app is Easy- Park’s Europe-wide availability. According to the provider, motorists can use it to pay for parking at more than 20,000 locations across the EU. has now launched the EasyPark app for mobile payment of parking in Poland. Ac- cording to the company, this makes Poland the 19th country in Europe where the app is available. EasyPark is a brand of Arrive and will “replace” the currently available Flow- bird app for parking in Poland “in due course”, the provider announced. The app is initially launching in 13 Polish cities, including Gniezno, Kraków, Gdańsk, So- pot, Cieszyn and Żywiec. The initial focus will be on popular tourist destinations and loca- tions near the border. Over the coming months, the app is set to be rolled out gradually across the whole country, according to Arrive. “As Poland’s first historic capital, Gniezno was the obvious choice for us to launch the EasyPark app. At the same time, we are ex- panding our presence across the country – with an initial focus on regions near the bor- der to highlight EasyPark’s comprehensive Europe-wide coverage. Availability in Poland offers immediate added value for drivers who regularly commute between countries: they can pay for their parking using a single app, no matter which country their journey e v i r r A © Arrive is entering the Polish market with its EasyPark app. takes them to,” says Sylwia Grzegorczyk, Re- gional Director for Central and Eastern Eu- ■ rope at Arrive. ALPINA Parking Digitises Multi-Storey Car Park in Klagenfurt A ccording to ALPINA Parking, the company has introduced the first barrier-free parking system in the centre of Klagenfurt. The digital technology is supplied by Arivo. For the first time, ALPINA cus- tomers can use two parking apps. The four-storey Heiligengeistplatz underground car park, with a total of 286 parking spaces at Villacher Ring 30, was taken over by ALPINA Parking GmbH from Vienna at the turn of the year. The facili- ty has been in regular operation since the new technology was intro- duced in January. The digital parking system is provided by Arivo. Further modernisation measures are planned for the future. With the new ALPINA Smile app, registered users receive discounts and added convenience, as payment is automatically processed via Partnership in Klagenfurt: ALPINA Parking and APCOA 6 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 i g n k r a P A N P L A © I
BUSINESS NEWS their digitally stored payment method. At the same time, for the first time, customers can also park at ALPINA using the APCOA Flow app (as per the manufacturer’s spelling) un- der the same terms and conditions. “By recognising the APCOA Flow app, we are working together with APCOA to make parking as simple and cost-effective as pos- sible for our customers,” said Maximilian Bichlmaier, CEO of ALPINA Parking. “The aim is to continue working together for the ben- efit of our customers and to implement such partnerships at further locations.” ■ Councillor Kirsty North with Matt Croucher, Chief Commercial Officer of Believ v e i l e B © Wero – the European payment solution Paying for parking has never been easier: A quick scan of the QR code, one tap, and they‘re ready to go. Easy integration European payment method No additional hardware required No risk of quishing thanks to a dynamic QR code High security through bank authentication Attractive cost structure Believ Backs Biggest LEVI Deal H ampshire County Council has selected for Electric vehicle (EV) charge point opera- tor (CPO) Believ to deliver what is expected to be the largest Local Electric Vehicle Infra- structure (LEVI) contract signed to date, bringing 17,180 public EV chargers to the county in a rollout backed by up to £90 mil- lion of Believ investment. In what will represent a significant step forward in preparing Hampshire for the con- tinued uptake of electric vehicles, the majori- ty of chargers will be standard plus (22kW) sockets to support residential long-stay and overnight charging needs. The approach is designed to support residents without access to private driveways and help ensure charge points are available within a five-minute walk of households, where possible. The rollout will also include more than 800 rapid charge points (50kW+) to serve shorter top ups. The project will be supported by £6.6 mil- lion of LEVI funding from Hampshire County Council, with Believ funding the remainder of the rollout through committed capital invest- ment of up to £90 million. This funding struc- ture is to enable the delivery of a large-scale, Believ will be future-ready charging network while mini- mising reliance on public finances. responsible the end-to-end delivery of the programme, in- cluding design, installation, operation and long-term maintenance of the charging net- work. Installations are expected to begin later this year, with around 500 charge points planned for delivery in the first year of the programme. Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire Coun- ty Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Lead for Universal Services, said: “As more people look to switch to EVs, ensuring access to reli- able, convenient charging is essential – par- ticularly for those without off-street park- ing.” Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, said: “This partnership with Hampshire County Council enables the largest EV charging programme delivered through the LEVI scheme to date. By combining public funding with significant private capital, we can move faster, reach more communities and make charging more accessible for residents all across Hamp- shire.” ■ Do not hesitate to contact us: Hectronic GmbH | Allmendstrasse 15 D-79848 Bonndorf | Tel. +49 7703 9388-0 mail@hectronic.com Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 7 www.hectronic.com
BUSINESS NEWS IP Parking and ParkBee Strengthen Partnership I P Parking and ParkBee are strengthening their collaboration with a direct integration between IP’s parking management system and ParkBee’s reservation platform. This is to enable parking facilities to connect more efficiently to the ParkBee network. The new service is available for locations in the Netherlands and Belgium. ParkBee’s booking platform actively matches motorists with available parking spaces, thereby opening up new marketing oppor- tunities for unused parking spaces. Parking facilities gain direct ac- cess to the growing network of ParkBee users, providing greater visi- bility, higher occupancy and better returns on existing infrastructure. This integration has been realized through IP Parking’s Booking Agent API, enabling seamless reservation handling between plat- forms. Operators continue to manage their parking facility centrally within ParkBase, where capacity, tariffs, and access settings can be ■ configured and adjusted. IP Parking Again Selected by 's-Hertogenbosch I P Parking has again been selected by the Municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch follow- ing a tender process. This contract extension underscores the strong and long-term coop- eration built up in recent years. “It confirms the municipality’s confidence in IP Parking as a reliable partner for the further develop- ment of modern parking solutions,” IP Park- ing has announced. Within this renewed partnership, IP Park- ing continues to support the municipality in further digitizing parking. Its fully connected parking platform focuses on optimising op- erational processes, whilst at the same time ensuring a user-friendly and seamless park- ing experience for the end user. Through the deployment of license plate recognition, digital payment solutions and integrations with mobility services, the parking environ- ment continues to evolve towards a flexible and future-proof system that meets the needs of modern cities. ■ 8 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
BUSINESS NEWS P eople in Parking Amit Prasad Terri Butler-Lee Autopay Technologies GmbH has wel- comed Amit Prasad as its new Country Manager for the DACH region. Before join- ing Autopay Technologies, Amit worked as Sales Manager at Arrive Germany and there- fore brings with him experience from the German parking industry. Amit started on June 1 and has already spent several days in Oslo as part of his onboarding. The stated aim of the Norwegian parent company is to usher in the next phase of growth in the DACH region. PayByPhone, provider of mobile parking payments, announced the appointment of Terri Butler-Lee as Global Director of Cus- tomer Experience and Support. Butler-Lee reports directly to Anthony Cashel, PayBy- Phone’s Chief Operating Officer. Based in the UK, she is responsible for leading PayBy- Phone’s global customer service, care and support operations. Cashel says, “Terri has the passion and innovative mindset to drive our global service operations forward. She brings a wealth of digital transformation ex- pertise to PayByPhone and has a proven track record of creating high-performing team cultures.” Butler-Lee adds, “I am thrilled to be joining PayByPhone at such an exciting stage of its growth journey. I look forward to supporting a culture of opera- tional excellence and continuing to enhance the digital customer experience as we inno- vate together.” Park Your Truck GmbH, European truck parking operator, is positioning itself for its next growth phase with an expanded leader- ship structure. Matthias Mandelkow has been appointed as an additional Managing Director alongside founder Denise Schus- ter. At the same time, Sven Bräuer assumes the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Matthias brings more than 15 years of ex- perience at the intersection of automotive, (from left to right) Matthias Mandelkow, Denise Schuster, Sven Bräuer parking and digital mobility. As co-founder and CEO of sunhill technologies GmbH, he built one of the first companies in mobile parking payments. Under his leadership, sunhill technologies became part of Volk- swagen Financial Services AG. From 2020 to 2022, Mandelkow served as Executive Board Member for Operations & IT (COO/CIO) at Best in Parking AG in Vienna. CAVU has welcomed Nick Woods as Manag- ing Director. Nick joins the role with deep experience from across Manchester Airport Group (MAG), where he has held senior tech- nology leadership positions since joining the Group in 2016. Nick is to lead CAVU through its next phase, building on the company’s mission to make travel more seamless and enjoyable for passengers, while helping partners drive stronger commercial perfor- mance across the travel ecosystem. Arrive announced a strategic focus toward an AI-first future, anchored by the appoint- ment of Eugene Tsyrklevich as Chief AI Officer (CAIO). In his new role, he will lead Arrive’s mandate with AI as the catalyst be- tween travelers and city infrastructure, mak- ing urban mobility more fluid and predicta- ble. Tsyrklevich previously served as the General Manager for Arrive’s Automotive & Data business unit. Cameron Clayton, CEO of Arrive, said "Our strategy is simple: move from tracking mobility to predicting it.” Nick Woods Eugene Tsyrklevich Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 9
LEAD STORY k c o t s r e t t u h S © Interview with Theo Thuis “There Will Be No Booking.com of Parking” The main theme of this edition is Parking 3.0. Against the backdrop of digitalization, mobile apps and cashless payment systems, we had the opportunity to interview EPA President Theo Thuis on this topic. When it comes to digitalization, a great deal revolves around data. This quickly leads to issues such as interoperability, compatibility, interfaces and data govern- ance. EPA has done a lot of groundwork in this area, particularly through the Alli- ance for Parking Data Standards (APDS). What challenges remain? Indeed, EPA, the BPA and the IPMI have been working on the standardisation of parking data for more than ten years. To- day, we have an ISO-certified standard in place, but this is only the beginning be- cause the work is so important. What we are seeing now is that parking is becoming part of a much broader, interconnected ecosystem of digital platforms. As opera- tors, both public and private, we need to be very aware of this. The European parking industry is worth around €70 billion but compared with sectors such as automotive manufacturers (OEMs) or public transport, we are still relatively small. In an AI-driven, data-led world, many or- ganisations will look at our industry and say, "Parking is now standardised and digitally organised." While this makes collaboration much easier, it also makes it easier for larger players to bring the sector under a single umbrella. We should also ask: Who is communicat- ing with the customer? That is one of the key issues, especially for those who say we no longer need barriers or hardware. Initially, it is all about improving comfort and convenience for the customer. Today, a vehicle can already start and end a parking transaction automatically and even make the payment itself. That technology already exists, and we would like to retain control over it. What does the car park of the future look like? When we talk about private transport, mobil- ity is increasingly destination-driven. Points of interest (POIs) will play an extremely im- portant role because the better we can de- fine a destination, the better we can plan both mobility and parking. The owner of the infrastructure also has a key role to play. The car park of the future will become a multimodal hub where people can park and charge vehicles, as well as book and share different forms of transport. From an infrastructure perspective, the tra- ditional car park will become much more in- tegrated into the urban environment. That is why the theme of our 2025 EPA conference was Reshaping Urban Space. We need to open up what has traditionally been a closed box and make it more accessible and multi-purpose. Our industry has a struc- 10 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
SHPV (Servicehuis Parkeer en Verblijfsrech- ten) and brings together around 100 munici- palities—essentially all those with paid on- street parking. It is supported by the Dutch Vehicle Authority (RDW) and the Ministry of Transport. The data is also connected to the Dutch National Access Point (NAP) as referred to in NAPCORE (National Access Point Coordi- nation Organisation for Europe). Through in- coming EU regulations, our sector has a legal obligation to publish our parking data. However, it is important to distinguish be- tween the legal obligation to publish parking data through the National Access Points (NAPs) and the compliance and enforcement functions of national parking registers. The first is about making data available in accord- ance with the regulations. The second is about ensuring that the system operates ef- fectively. In the Netherlands, for example, there are 23 parking apps. They all comply with the required standards and can be used for on- street parking. Municipalities then enforce compliance using scan cars or on-street en- forcement officers. That is how the enforce- ment process works. So, does this make it easier for app pro- viders to operate across different cities? Exactly. The European Commission has made it clear that parking should be more convenient for citizens. Drivers should not have to ask themselves, "Which parking app do I need to download in this city?" That is why national registers or platforms are so important. We now also have one in England, it’s called the National Parking Platform (NPP) which was initiated by the BPA and the UK Government’s Department for Transport. We know that several other countries are inter- ested in the NPP model. In Belgium, we have the Belgian Parking Register, which is de- signed and developed by Be-Mobile. In Germany, there is the smartparking initia- tive, a non-profit platform for cashless parking. Nearly 400 cities are connected to the platform, and it has also expanded into Austria, where around 50 cities are now connected. LEAD STORY public sector. Should these platforms be in- dependent and not-for-profit? Our position at EPA is that at national level they should be managed by an inde- pendent, not-for-profit organisation. We are therefore working on a framework that ena- bles interoperability between the different national initiatives, because it is unrealistic to think that a single European parking regis- ter will be developed. So, a supranational register would not work? No. We should follow the needs and de- mands of the national parking associations. In my opinion, that is very important. If each country has its own parking register, it is in a much stronger position to connect with oth- er parts of the mobility ecosystem through APDS. What is the current situation regarding data protection? Have the necessary legal frameworks been established across all EPA member countries to permit the use of licence plate recognition (LPR)? The new AI Act and the GDPR are working well. Enforcement systems use the licence plate as the key identifier for a vehicle, but it is very difficult to get the personal data linked to it, especially when it comes to non- resident drivers. That information is usually only made available to public authorities, and even this is applied in a very inconsist- ent way across EU countries. Who should manage such platforms or registers? The discussion is whether this should be left to private companies or managed by the When we are talking about autonomous driving, who pays the bill—the vehicle or the driver? And if there is an accident, who is responsible? ➜ i ) n o i t a k n u m m o K n e k n e a M ( h u R o k r a M ) 4 ( © tural under-utilisation of capacity, and we need to make better use of the space we al- ready have. This also applies to freight and urban lo- gistics. Cities are not only about private vehi- cles—they also need to accommodate the movement of goods. When this is organised effectively, car parks can become part of the logistics chain. In France, for example, Indigo is partly transforming several car parks near the Champs-Élysées into urban logistics cen- tres. Ultimately, the right solution depends on local needs and demand. That sounds like a very complex system. Yes, exactly. It is a very diverse and highly segmented landscape. Imagine, for exam- ple, that Booking.com starts offering parking reservations. We are also involved in the EAVP (Enhanc- ing Automated Valet Parking) platform alongside ERTICO, BMW, Valeo, Skidata and other partners. In that project, the technolo- gy is already in the vehicle. The key question is: who will act as the aggregator? Who will bridge the gap between the automotive in- dustry (OEMs) and the parking industry? That role will be extremely important. National parking registers are essential for the efficient enforcement of parking regulations and debt collection, both for public and private operators. However, the situation varies considerably from country to country. What strategic objec- tives is EPA pursuing in this area? The Netherlands is a good example. We have had a national parking register for around 15 years. It is managed by a foundation called Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 11
LEAD STORY ➜ When it comes to accidents, the principle is quite clear: the responsibility lies with the vehicle and its manufacturer. The insurance industry is expected to manage this through smart insurance solutions. Otherwise, the system simply will not work. Although fully autonomous Level 4 vehi- cles are not yet in widespread use, experts say that insurance companies have been prepar- ing for this transition for more than ten years and will find the right solutions. In Germany, developments are now accelerating rapidly. From your personal perspective, what are the three most important priorities for the further digitalization of parking in the coming years? I see three main categories of challenges. The first is the development of a connect- ed ecosystem of platforms. We will see plat- forms from navigation providers, automotive manufacturers (OEMs), parking aggregators, public transport operators and many others working together. Our industry needs to be- come platform-oriented, with different plat- forms interacting and integrating with one another. I do not believe there will be a single "Booking.com of parking". The parking and mobility sectors are simply too diverse and segmented. Platform integration and inter- connectivity will therefore be essential. The second challenge is the relationship between cities and mobility. Cities define the regulations, access policies and on-street ca- pacity that shape traffic and determine which vehicles can enter certain areas. These deci- sions have a direct impact on parking capaci- ty and occupancy. At the same time, customer We are moving towards greater flexibility and pay-per-use. There will be a new equilib- rium between private and public transport. As private transport becomes cleaner, elec- tric and more autonomous, it will increas- ingly focus on pay-per-use. In London, you already have robo-taxis. In rural areas, because of labour shortages, you will see robo-shuttles emerging. Those de- velopments are not that far away. Over the next 15 years, we will see all these changes, and from 2040 to 2060, transport will be- come fully electric and self-driving. Last question, how can the parking industry as a whole benefit from all these developments? By continuing to develop our own standards and connecting them with the wider mobili- ty platforms. This is still a somewhat uncertain period because we do not yet know who will ulti- mately drive these various platforms for- ward. As the parking industry, we must en- sure that we keep a firm grip on the helm. Otherwise, other companies will dictate the direction we take. If they see us simply as in- frastructure providers, we will diminish our role, our capacity and our influence. We must therefore stay closely connected with cities, both for on-street and off-street parking, whether publicly or privately oper- ated. From an infrastructure perspective, we are extremely powerful, but we have to de- fine the rules and organise the governance in a smart way. We want to cooperate with other stake- holders because otherwise we would be- come isolated, but we do not want to be di- ■ rected by a third party either. expectations continue to grow. People expect parking to be convenient and seamless. Al- though parking is something people only think about for a few minutes during each journey, it is at that moment of arrival that convenience matters most. The third challenge is ensuring that park- ing infrastructure remains accessible, both on-street and off-street. As parking assets become increasingly multimodal and multi- functional, it is not enough simply to devel- op new services—we must also ensure that the right people can continue to access them. This requires close integration with traffic management systems and careful consideration of the needs of different user groups. At present, these decisions are large- ly made at regional and city level, reflecting local priorities. The City of Amsterdam, for example, has identified 16 specific groups for whom access to a car is essential, includ- ing healthcare professionals, carers, emer- gency responders, craftspeople, older peo- ple and disabled citizens. Governance is another important aspect of this challenge. As AI becomes more widely used, questions of responsibility and ex- plainability become increasingly important. Who is responsible for a particular service? Can we guarantee that it works as intended, and can we explain how decisions are made? We are only at the beginning of this journey, and these issues will need to be addressed as AI becomes more deeply embedded in mobility services. So, it remains a local business? Yes, of course. But it uses platforms that are organised more globally. Away from the problems and challenges, as someone who has been closely follow- ing the development of parking for dec- ades, what fascinating digital solutions and services do you foresee? It will be AI-driven. It will be comfortable, convenient and free-flow. It will be more planned, but also more precise, especially for short-distance journeys. Studies by BMW in Munich and Erasmus University have shown that 38 per cent of all car trips in Europe are less than five kilome- tres. From a health point of view, that means we should promote more active travel. 12 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
LEAD STORY o v i r A ) 4 ( © In Wolfenbüttel town centre, just under 520 parking spaces are managed entirely via Arivo. Wolfenbüttel opts for Arivo Parking Without Barriers, Tickets or Cash Wolfenbüttel Municipal Services in in Lower Saxony, northern Germany has systematically modernised its city-centre parking infrastructure: in collaboration with Arivo, three central locations have been converted to a ticket- and cash-free parking system as part of a phased roll-out. The previous ticket and barrier system, which had become increasingly prone to faults and was maintenance-intensive, is now a thing of the past. T he Rosenwall car park, with 172 spac- es, kicked off the process in the last week of February 2026. This was fol- lowed at the end of April by the Löwentor car park on Schulwall, with 188 spaces. At the same time, the Karlstraße car park, with 157 spaces, was integrated into the digital man- agement system. This means that a total of just under 520 parking spaces in Wolfenbüt- tel town centre are now fully managed by Arivo. ANPR as the Basis The principle is the same at all locations: barriers and parking tickets are completely eliminated. The parking duration is auto- matically recorded upon entry and exit via the vehicle’s number plate. For parkers, this means a noticeable improvement in con- venience: lost tickets are a thing of the past, and the entire parking process runs much more smoothly. Payment is made cashlessly via a card terminal, QR code or the EasyPark app. Anyone who forgets to pay can settle the parking fee online up to 48 hours after leaving the car park. Those parking for less than 15 minutes can leave free of charge. ing how the consistent digitalisation of mu- nicipal parking infrastructure can be suc- cessfully achieved. ■ The Karlstraße car park is available exclu- sively to long-term parkers. Authorised users can enter and exit without barriers. In future, administration and billing are to be man- aged digitally via the Arivo Customer Portal. Measurable Relief in Day-to-Day Operations According to Arivo, the switch represents a noticeable reduction in the workload for the city’s public services: the new system com- pletely replaces the previous analogue ad- ministration and the technology, which was prone to breakdowns. Recurring tasks such as handling cash and the associated costs of cash transport are no longer necessary. The overarching aim is to establish modern, sus- tainable mobility solutions in Wolfenbüttel and to provide residents with an attractive range of parking options. With the rollout now complete, Wolfenbüttel is demonstrat- Cashless payment options: via QR code, at the pay-on-arrival machine, using the EasyPark app or retrospectively online. Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 13
LEAD STORY Billogram Without Modern Payment Systems, Parking Will No Longer Be Competitive from 2030 What was regarded for decades as a technical side issue is becoming a core strategic issue for cities, operators and mobility platforms: the payment process. New EU regu- lations, instant payments, digital wallets, e-mobility and cross-border mobility are increasing the complexity – whilst users expect uncompromising simplicity. P arking is in the midst of a fundamen- tal structural transformation. What used to be an isolated process – from arrival to taking a ticket to payment – is now part of a seamless mobility journey. This is because parking is merging with navigation, e-charging infrastructure, subscription mod- els, sharing schemes and, increasingly, cross-border use. For these user groups, it is no longer the parking space itself that mat- ters, but whether mobility as a whole func- tions smoothly, transparently and fairly, ac- cording to Billogram founder Jonas Suijker- buijk. So whilst cities and operators have in- vested heavily in smart parking systems, sensor technology and digital services, one key component often remains underdevel- oped: the payment process. Many payment solutions have evolved over time, are frag- mented at a national level and are opera- tionally complex. Different payment meth- ods, a lack of real-time capability, manual reconciliations and increasing regulatory re- quirements create friction both in day-to- day operations and in the user experience. In the view of Billogram’s CEO, this in turn has a direct impact on revenue, scalability and the acceptance of new mobility services. Jonas Suijkerbuijk has been tackling pre- cisely these challenges for more than a dec- ade. As founder and CEO of Billogram, he is responsible for building a European pay- ment and billing platform that processes large transaction volumes daily in regulated markets. Billogram works across sectors with companies that face recurring pay- ments, high complexity and strict regulatory requirements – including energy suppliers, telecoms providers, insurance companies and, increasingly, mobility service providers. “The payment process is the most sensi- tive moment in the entire mobility experi- ence,” explains Suijkerbuijk. For him, this is often the only direct point of contact be- tween the operator and the user: “If this mo- Opinion Fragmented payment systems hinder innovation, undermine the customer experience and jeopardise revenue models – says Jonas Suijkerbuijk, founder and CEO of payment service provider Billogram. He explains why payments in the parking and mobility sector are no longer merely a back-office issue, but are becoming a strategic part of the infrastructure of modern cities. “Anyone who fails to integrate, automate and scale payment processes will lose their competitive edge – well before 2030,” says Suijkerbuijk. ment doesn’t work, it causes frustration among motorists, regardless of how modern the car parks, apps or barriers are.” Based on this experience, Billogram views payment not as an isolated transaction, but as strate- gic infrastructure that determines cost-effec- tiveness, scalability and customer satisfac- tion in equal measure. m a r g o l l i B © 14 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
About Billogram EPA Corporate Member (Bronze) Billogram was founded in 2011 by Jonas Suijker- buijk and is a Swedish company offering a SaaS platform for invoicing, payment pro- cessing and customer management. Originally founded in Sweden, Billogram now operates in several European countries. According to the company, it employs over 100 staff at its headquarters in Stockholm. Payment Processes as Part of Mobility Whether it’s parking, charging or multimodal use: payments are now an integral part of the user experience. Customers expect real- time payments, trusted wallets, local pay- ment methods and transparent billing. And this applies across national borders too. “Payments shape how mobility is perceived. Those who set up payment processes strate- gically lay the foundation for new services, flexible pricing models and stable revenue streams,” says Suijkerbuijk. For operators and local authorities, payment mechanisms are therefore the enabler of new mobility concepts, rather than merely a transactional LEAD STORY function. In parallel, Billogram is currently developing a solution to combat fraud, as payment fraud has become an ever-greater challenge for mobility providers. Fragmented Systems Hold Operators Back According to Billogram, many car park oper- ators still use separate solutions for billing, payment processing, debt collection and re- porting. Experts say this fragmentation leads to high operating costs, complicates regula- tory compliance and slows down innovation. “By 2030, nobody will accept five different payment processes for a single mobility journey,” says Suijkerbuijk. In his view, oper- ators without an integrated, scalable pay- ment infrastructure will fall behind both economically and strategically: “Users no longer compare parking with the car park next door, but with digital platforms where payment happens seamlessly in the back- ground.” “The payment process is the most sensitive moment in the entire mobility experience.” Jonas Suijkerbuijk, Billogram k c o t s r e t t u h S © the Regulation as a Competitive Advantage New European regulations such as PSD3, SEPA Instant or digital identities are increas- ing the pressure to modernise payment processes. At the same time, Billogram be- lieves these regulations can create the framework for automation, security and ef- ficiency. “Regulation separates the pioneers from laggards,” says Suijkerbuijk. “Those who invest early stabilise payment flows, reduce operational friction and gain trust.” According to Suijkerbuijk, the future of parking in Germany may well be decided not in the car park itself, but in the payment process: modern, integrated payment sys- tems are a prerequisite for cost-effective operation, scalable mobility and the accept- ance of new services. Those who ignore them may lose their competitive edge – long before 2030 arrives. ■ Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 15
LEAD STORY New Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport A Car Park of Superlatives With the opening of Terminal 3 on 23 April this year, Frankfurt Airport significantly expanded its capacity: the terminal is initially designed to handle up to 19 million passengers a year. The associated new car park, with a total of 8,500 parking spaces across eight levels, is one of the largest car parks in Europe. G oldbeck was responsible for con- structing the facility, which compris- es two elongated structures. The Bielefeld-based main contractor built the car park on behalf of Fraport AG, stating that it was completed “in record time”. Despite the often difficult circumstances during the pan- demic, the eight-storey structure was com- pleted on schedule. Claus Albrecht, branch manager of Gold- beck in Frankfurt am Main, sums it up: “It is one of the largest car parks we have ever built. The sheer size alone makes such a structure truly special. Added to this were the client’s specific safety standards, includ- ing emergency power supply and fire alarm systems, as well as the implementation of the traffic management plan to handle the enormous visitor flows. Nevertheless, the planning for the new structures – up to 400 metres long – could be incorporated into our car park system with the usual minor adjust- ments.” Overpasses, access points, tunnels and bypasses were integrated without any problems. Goldbeck had presented its plans for this in 2019 as a fully executed BIM design (Building Information Modelling, BIM, is a digital planning method used in the con- struction industry) – and was awarded the contract. Clear and Well-Organised Design In addition to bright parking spaces, the modular construction method creates a largely column-free space, leaving plenty of room for manoeuvring and parking. A colour scheme helps guide users through the car park. Thanks to the open, rectangular design of the two structures, the car park feels un- cluttered despite its size. The total area of the car park is 240,000 square metres, which is equivalent to around 34 football pitches. The building is up to 26 metres high. Accord- ing to Goldbeck, 10,000 floor slabs from the company’s own production and around 8,000 tonnes of steel were used in the con- struction. Claus Albrecht comments: “Ulti- mately, the most sustainable aspect of con- struction is always the reduction in material used. With an average thickness of around ten centimetres, Goldbeck’s car park floor slabs are over 28 per cent thinner than those made from in-situ concrete.” Another advantage is that the special concrete developed by Goldbeck requires no coating whatsoever, as it is waterproof. The building components were transported en- 16 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
LEAD STORY h u R o k r a M ) 4 ( © tirely by rail, right up to 200 metres from the terminal car park construction site. The car park was handed over to Fraport in April 2023. Digital Guidance Systems Spanning eight levels, accessed via various stair towers and lifts, the car park incorpo- rates a multi-layered network of routes with a guidance system for cars and pedestrians. Five entrances and one central exit, plus four spiral ramps, are designed to help prevent traffic jams from occurring even during peri- ods of high demand. A digital parking guid- ance system has been installed to aid naviga- tion and manage traffic flows. Sensors from MSR-Traffic are fitted above each of the 8,500 parking spaces to detect available spaces. In addition to the individual ‘green/red’ indicators, real-time information on occu- Skidata’s solutions were chosen for the car park. Designa technology is being used in the drop-off areas. pancy status is transmitted to digital LED matrix displays. These are located both at the entrances and exits of each level and centrally at the ground-floor entrance, where an overview of all levels is displayed. This is also intended to reduce traffic caused by drivers searching for a parking space. At the heart of the parking guidance sys- tem is the ParkGard Control Centre from MSR-Traffic. This software enables the op- erator to control, visualise and analyse ve- hicle counts and parking operations in real time. Thanks to the web-based application, multiple projects and individual areas can be managed simultaneously, divided into different user groups, as is the case at Ter- minal 3. Skidata Implements a Forward-Looking Solution The car park management system for Termi- nal 3 is provided by Skidata and offers a range of access technologies. Depending on the area, entry and exit are handled either via a traditional ticket, via a QR code for on- line bookings, or completely barrier-free us- ing automatic number plate recognition. In addition, flexible payment options are avail- able: on-site at pay stations, directly at the exit gate or via smartphone. According to Skidata, the company has achieved seamless connectivity and integra- tion with Fraport’s existing systems. A key advantage of the Skidata solution lies in its scalability. The system is designed to grow in line with the terminal’s requirements with- out the need for adjustments to the IT infra- structure. Additional services such as e- charging infrastructure, special parking are- as or fleet solutions can be flexibly integrated into the central software platform. “For Terminal 3 in Frankfurt, we have im- plemented a solution that combines techno- logical capability with maximum user- friendliness,” says Ralf Klomp, Managing Di- rector of Skidata Deutschland GmbH. “The intelligent integration of number plate rec- ognition and digital services creates a fu- ture-proof platform that can efficiently man- age even the complex requirements of an in- ternational air transport hub.” Online Marketing as the Core Business The majority of the public parking capacity there – just under 4,000 spaces – is marketed via online advance booking. According to Fraport, 80 per cent of terminal parking spaces are now pre-booked. 1,425 spaces are available for walk-in customers. In addi- tion, there are around 100 charging points for electric vehicles, which are marketed ex- clusively online. Furthermore, 1,475 parking spaces are leased to car hire companies. Ex- clusive quotas for contract customers under ➜ Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 17
LEAD STORY ➜ the ‘Corporate Parking’ scheme round off the currently planned use of the total of 8,500 parking spaces. Innovative Solutions for the Terminal Drop-Off Area In addition to the multi-storey car park, the new drop-off areas at Terminal 3 also fall within the remit of Fraport’s Parking & Mobil- ity division. There are significantly more parking spaces available for dropping off and picking up passengers than at Terminal 2. In addition to short-stay parkers – mainly those dropping off and picking up passen- gers – taxis, hotel buses, crew buses, car park shuttle operators, public transport bus- es and long-distance coaches also benefit from generous stopping facilities and a mod- ern coach station in the non-public area. Fraport describes the processes at the drop-off areas as forward-looking. Number plate recognition eliminates the need for parking tickets; the number plate serves as the central entry and exit identifier. For stops of less than ten minutes, the “Fast Exit” is free of charge. Designa Integrated the New System During Operations The technology behind it comes from Desig- na. As part of its long-standing collaboration with Fraport, this has been the most com- plex project to date at the Frankfurt site, ac- cording to the Kiel-based company. A Desig- Facts and Figures ■ 8 levels with 8,500 parking spaces in the Terminal 3 car park ■ Construction period: 3 years ■ 52 entry and 10 exit barriers, 23 pay-on-exit machines ■ 5 access points for different customer groups/services, 1 central exit ■ 99 electric vehicle charging points ■ 3,860 parking spaces for online pre-booking ■ 1,425 parking spaces for drive-up customers ■ 1,475 parking spaces for hire cars ■ 1,740 spaces for long-term parkers and other uses ■ Level 3 of the car park is directly connected to Level 2 of the main terminal building via two pedestrian bridges ■ Photovoltaic system on the car park roof to provide a partial supply of electricity; sufficient to power approximately 900 detached houses na service team is therefore permanently on site. The hardware used also differs signifi- cantly from the existing systems. The new generation of Designa Connect double-deck terminals is being deployed for the first time on the approach roads to Terminal 3. Inte- grated into the barriers are, amongst other things, LPR cameras from Survision, displays and digital access control systems. At the same time, the payment options have been expanded. In addition to traditional meth- ods, Pay-by-Plate and PayMobile are now available for the first time. In addition, inter- faces to third-party systems have been im- plemented, for example to manage specific traffic flows such as ride-hailing services or taxis. According to Designa, the installation comprises a total of: ten cashless terminals, eight cash-and-card terminals, eleven entry and exit terminals, 13 double-deck terminals and 36 barriers. The on-site installation was carried out within a tight timeframe of around three months, whilst Terminals 1 and 2 continued to operate without any restrictions, accord- ing to Designa. The aim was to integrate the new system directly into the existing system landscape. As a result, two operating models are now running simultaneously: ticket- based at Terminals 1 and 2, and ticketless at Terminal 3 – all on a shared infrastructure. ■ Interview with Gerald Krebs “The Digital Revolution has Effectively Taken Place Here” On the day Terminal 3 opened, we met Gerald Krebs, Senior Vice President of Parking & Mobility at Fraport AG. We spoke about the unique aspects of car park management at Frankfurt Airport. Gerald Krebs, Senior Vice President of Parking & Mobility at Fraport AG is also chairman of the board of the German Parking Association (Bundes- verband Parken e.V.) Keyword: Smart Parking – what does Fraport mean by this? We deliberately look at it from the customer’s perspec- tive, aiming to make the parking process as convenient and straightforward as possible. Here are a few exam- ples of what digital solutions make possible here: ad- vance bookings, which allow you to reserve your park- ing space with ease; the entry process via a QR code; a parking guidance system that, thanks to individual space monitoring, guides you through the entire car 18 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
LEAD STORY The car parks are designed for different user groups: entrance to the P12 hire car area. Parking guidance system with individual parking space detection throughout the car park customers a day booking a parking space online. Around 80 per cent of our parking spaces in the terminal car parks are booked in advance. Our car parks are therefore full of vehicles belonging to people who went online beforehand and made a purchase decision there. This has also significantly changed the scope of our parking management tasks. We carry out search engine marketing and work closely with the Park.Aero platform, a joint venture between five airports in Germany and Austria. When will the new car park be full for the first time? The car park’s occupancy rate is closely linked to passenger num- bers at Terminal 3. The new terminal will provide us with growth capacity at the airport over the coming years. With the relocation of Condor – the second-largest airline here in Frankfurt – Terminal 3 will already be well utilised by summer 2027. We therefore expect that, over the next two to three years, we will experience periods for ■ the first time when the car park will be full. One of the car park ships is up to 400 metres long. park to your booked space; and the whole area of number plate recognition, both in the car park and on the approach roads. Or a special service given the size of our car parks: anyone enter- ing with an advance booking is recognised by the entry terminal. Via our central software, the customer receives a notification in the wallet where they’ve stored their digital parking ticket, telling them where their car is parked. We also send an email with the location. This means you can easily find your car again when you return from holiday after two weeks. We’re constantly working on a whole range of solutions to keep optimising the system. If I book a parking space in advance, am I allocated a specific parking bay? With our premium product, Business Parking, specific rows of park- ing bays are allocated. With the standard products, you book on a flat-rate basis and it operates on a first-come, first-served basis. But there’s always guaranteed to be a space available. Ultimately, you’re paying for the convenience: the proximity and the width of the parking space. A few years ago, something like this wouldn’t have been possi- ble at all… The digital revolution has really taken hold here. In essence, we’ve become a major e-commerce retailer. We currently have up to 2,000 h u R o k r a M ) 6 ( © Up on the roof: the car park with a bridge connection to the new Terminal 3, with the Frankfurt skyline in the background. Gerald Krebs looks out over the photovoltaic system on the roof of the car park. This can supply the electricity needs of around 900 households. Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 19
LEAD STORY e n o h P y B y a P ) 2 ( © PayByPhone PayByPhone also offers off-street solutions, including the particularly convenient AutoPay, where the entire parking process, including payment, is fully automated. Parking Made Easy PayByPhone, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, is one of the world’s leading providers of mobile parking solutions. Its app- based solutions are in use in over 1,300 cities and with numerous car park operators in North America, the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. We asked about the technical background and how the system works. A ccording to the company, more than 110 million motorists worldwide al- ready use PayByPhone. In Germany, the company is represented at more than 530 locations, across local authorities and opera- tors. PayByPhone provides cities and local authorities with a digital infrastructure that enables them to offer parkers various cash- less payment methods via the app. In this context, PayByPhone acts as the ‘merchant of record’ vis-à-vis the payment providers and handles the entire payment processing. Users benefit from simple and intuitive operation. After downloading the free app, car owners register and enter their vehicle details and a preferred payment method once. At PayByPhone locations – provided location services are enabled on the smart- phone – the app automatically detects the current parking space or nearby parking zones and displays them directly on the home screen. The user confirms the loca- tion, selects the registered vehicle and sets the desired parking duration. With just a sin- gle tap, the parking process begins and pay- ment is initiated. Users in Germany have a wide range of options to choose from, in- cluding PayPal, credit card, Google Pay, Ap- ple Pay and payment via their mobile phone bill. In some cities, the service is further sup- plemented by SMS parking. Seamless Integration Behind the scenes, PayByPhone says it works closely with enforcement authorities, car park operators and other technology providers to deliver a seamless digital park- ing solution to cities, local authorities, oper- ators and users. Central to this are integra- tions with leading parking system providers such as Skidata, Scheidt & Bachmann Park- ing Solutions, Designa and Goldbeck Parking Services. These connections enable car parks and car park operators to use PayBy- Phone for digital payment processes. For users, this results in convenient fea- tures based on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology. With “Pay- on-Exit”, for example, ANPR automatically records the vehicle’s number plate and ar- rival time upon entry to the car park, mean- ing a ticket is not required. Before exiting, users pay their parking fee via the PayBy- Phone app for the automatically calculated duration. Once payment has been made, the exit barrier opens automatically as the vehi- cle approaches. ‘AutoPay’ is even more con- venient: drivers can enter and exit without having to open the app or take a ticket. ANPR cameras record entry and exit, calculate the parking duration, and PayByPhone auto- matically charges the payment method linked to the account. This requires a one-off activation of the feature within the app. A Complement to Traditional Methods According to PayByPhone, digital parking so- lutions are being introduced in public spaces as a complement to offer motorists greater flexibility and convenience. At the same time, local authorities must ensure that analogue payment options – such as traditional parking ticket machines – remain available to provide barrier-free access for all user groups. On private land, however, the require- ments are more flexible. PayByPhone adopts a technology-neutral approach and offers digital services tailored to different needs and local authority frameworks. In addition to payment via the app, these include regis- tration-free SMS parking and browser-based web payments. Fees and Business Model PayByPhone itself does not set any parking fees, the app provider emphasises. These are defined exclusively by the respective cli- ents – that is, cities, local authorities or pri- vate operators. Contrary to a widespread as- sumption, PayByPhone does not take a share of the parking fees charged for the ac- tual duration of parking. This revenue goes entirely to the respective operator of the parking spaces. The same applies to any penalty or additional charges, for example, for exceeding the parking time. PayByPhone’s business model is instead based on a fixed transaction fee per parking session, agreed in advance by contract – re- gardless of whether the session lasts just a few minutes or several hours. This fee gener- ally remains constant throughout the entire contract period. According to PayByPhone, the client decides whether to bear the fee themselves or pass it on to users. The transaction fee, often referred to as a service charge, covers the technical and op- erational aspects of the service. According to PayByPhone, this includes secure payment processing, compliance with regulatory and banking standards, the protection of sensi- tive user data, the continuous development of the app, the provision of receipts and transaction overviews, geolocation services for location detection, as well as customer service and support. ■ 20 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
LEAD STORY Designa: Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier Complex Parking Solution for One of Europe’s Largest Inner-City Projects Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier in HafenCity is one of Europe’s most ambitious inner-city development projects. For the management of parking facilities, Designa implemented a solution that brings together different requirements, user groups and traffic flows within an integrated system. T he starting point was a car park originally designed in a tradi- tional manner, as reported by system provider Designa, which was selected for the project. However, during the detailed planning phase, this concept was fundamentally refined. Working in close consultation with the client, a bespoke solution was developed that combines various technologies within a single facility. Integrated System Solution The scheme now utilises ticketless systems for short-stay parkers and Designa’s free-flow products. This is complemented by features such as dynamic pricing – that is, flexible, demand-driven tariffs – mobile payment and the integration of long-term parkers. The aim was to cre- ate a solution that is both operationally efficient and user-friendly. The challenge was to reconcile a wide range of uses at Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier – from retail and catering through to lei- sure facilities, hotels and other services. According to Designa, the requirements for car park management are correspondingly diverse. To serve and manage the various user groups and traffic flows within a single system, the Kiel-based company specifically combined areas with and without barriers to meet the respective requirements. In collaboration with Videte IT, a specialist in security technology, video surveillance, access control and car park management based in Neumünster, a camera-based parking guidance system was imple- mented. Individual space detection enables the precise identifica- tion of vacant parking spaces and helps visitors find a parking space quickly. As a result, this helps to reduce traffic caused by vehicles searching for a space and improves traffic flow within the car park. Seamless Processes Behind the Scenes A key feature of the project is the interaction between the individual components, explains Designa. Entry, parking guidance, payment processes and exit are coordinated in such a way as to create the smoothest possible experience for the user. Designa’s Digital Solution Modules form the foundation of the system architecture. Also in use is, amongst other things, the Con- tract Parker Module, which enables digital booking, automatic billing and centralised management, and is designed to reduce the work- load involved in car park operations. Operators manage contracts, payment processes and access media via a web-based back office, whilst customers can manage their own access rights. Flagship Project for Modern Car Park Systems For Designa, the Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier represents a showcase project that demonstrates the implementation of complex requirements within an integrated system landscape, the company states. It illustrates how car park management is increasingly evolv- ing from isolated, stand-alone solutions towards networked digital infrastructures. ■ a n g i s e D ) 3 ( © From isolated, stand-alone solutions to networked digital infrastructures: Designa’s system solution at Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier in HafenCity Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 21
EPA NEWS “Proud Member of EPA” Corporate Members – Join Us! The European Parking Association (EPA) has been leading the way in Europe’s parking sector since 1983! As an umbrella organization, EPA brings together national parking associations and corporate members. Corporate Members of EPA M U N I T A L P D L O G R E V L I S APCOA Group www.apcoa.com Arrive www.arrive.com/en INDIGO GROUP www.group-indigo.com Interparking www.interparking.com Q-Park www.q-park.com Best in Parking www.bestinparking.com Riverty ww.riverty.com SETEX APARKI www.gruposetex.es Skidata www.skidata.com VALEO www.valeo.com Autopay www.autopay.io/solutions Avantpark www.avantpark.de BSM https://bsmsa.cat/en Fondation des Parkings www.geneve-parking.ch/fr GOLDBECK Parking Services www.goldbeck-parking.de GreenFlux www.greenflux.com Marston Holdings https://marstonholdings.co.uk PayByPhone www.paybyphone.de Scheidt & Bachmann www.scheidt-bachmann.com Verra Mobility www.verramobility.com 22 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
EPA NEWS E PA’s primary goal is to foster cooperation between profession- al parking organizations across different European countries. By exchanging professional experience among its members, EPA helps to improve smart parking management and sustainable urban mobility across Europe whilst driving innovation and progress in the parking sector. Join us and see your logo included on the ’Cor- porate Members list’ in the next issue of Parking Trend International! We offer four options for Corporate Membership, each with different levels of benefits. For detailed information about the different catego- ries of Corporate Membership see: https://europeanparking.eu/membership-categories/ ACCS International www.accsinternational.com Amano www.amano.eu Arivo https://arivo.co Automatic Systems Be-Mobile www.automatic-systems.com www.be-mobile.com Billogram www.billogram.com BOE Parking www.boe-parking.at CAME Parkare www.cameparkare.com City Park https://citypark.gr coeo Inkasso www.coeo-group.ai Commend www.commend.com DCBL – Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd. https://dcbltd.com Demondo www.demondo.com Designa www.designa.com EFAFLEX www.efaflex.com Egis www.egis-group.com ETI Experts www.eti-experts.de FairParken www.fairparken.com FIFI4PARKING i www.fifi4parking.nl GreenPoint www.greenpoint-partners.com E Z N O R B Hectronic GmbH www.hectronic.com Huber Parking https://huber-parking.com HUB Parking Technology www.hubparking.com Imperial Civil Enforcement Solutions www.imperial.co.uk Infotrafic www.infotrafic.com Indigo Park Luxembourg www.group-indigo.com/fr/ Mobility46 www.mobility46.se/en Monit Data www.monitdata.com Nayax www.nayax.com Nordisk Profil GmbH www.nordisk-profil.de Orbility www.orbility.com Park.Aero Park & Charge https://agency.park.aero/en/ https://parkcharge-digital.dev.asteroidea.com ParkDots s.r.o. www.parkdots.com Parking Matters Limited https://parkingmatters.com Parkster www.parkster.com ParkTrade www.parktrade.com PBW. Parken verbindet. www.parktrade.com Primevest www.primevestcp.com Projekt w www.projekt-w.de Quinta Smart Parking Survision TKH Security www.quinta-consulting.de/en www.smartparking.com www.survisiongroup.com https://tkhsecurity.com/ Wemolo GmbH www.wemolo.com Yespark www.yespark.fr Yunex Traffic www.yunextraffic.com Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 23
EPA NEWS | Corporate Member Portraits Best in Parking – Pioneering Parking & Mobility Infrastructure in Central and Southeast Europe EPA GOLD MEMBER Founded in 1976 Best in Parking has evolved into one of Central and Southeast Europe’s leading parking and mobility infrastruc- ture companies. Best in Parking AG is a leading developer, owner and operator of parking and mobility infrastructure across Austria, Italy, Croa- tia, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia. The company covers the entire value chain — from planning and sustainable construction to customer-oriented operations, with continuous investment in renovation and maintenance. Its portfolio current- ly comprises around 100,000 parking spaces at more than 200 lo- cations in over 40 cities, with a clear focus on prime city-centre locations and high-frequency points of interest. In parallel to its core business, Best in Parking is actively driv- ing the transition to sustainable mobility. The company already operates more than 1,000 EV charging points, including fast chargers, as well as two photovoltaic plants, with further expan- sion planned across its portfolio. Wherever possible, charging in- frastructure is powered by self-generated energy. Digital solutions complement the company’s service portfolio. The Bmove parking app makes parking and charging easier and fully cashless, both on- and off-street. In addition, through its subsidiary RAO, Best in Parking develops integrated IT and Smart City solutions that support connected, more sustainable cities through efficient traffic, mobility and visitor management sys- tems, including payment platforms. Innovation and sustainability are integral parts of Best in Park- ing’s long-term business strategy, with a focus on developing fu- ture-oriented mobility infrastructure and maintaining a resilient portfolio for the future. www.bestinparking.com Marston Holdings: An Integrated Approach to Transport, Enforcement and Public Services EPA SILVER MEMBER As cities and transport networks across Europe evolve, public authorities face growing pressure to manage mobility efficiently while maintaining public confidence and meeting environmental goals. These challenges require joined-up approaches that work from planning through to delivery. Marston Holdings is a UK-based group operating across trans- port, enforcement, infrastructure and public services, supporting organisations through an integrated, end-to-end model. Bringing Services Together The group brings together capabilities spanning consultancy, front-line operations, technology, customer engagement and re- covery. By connecting these areas, organisations can move away from fragmented delivery models towards more consistent, data- led approaches that improve efficiency while maintaining com- pliance and transparency. Experience in Transport and Parking Through its operational businesses, including NSL, Marston Hold- ings supports local authorities with parking and transport enforce- ment services. These activities focus on improving compliance, reducing congestion and supporting safer road environments. Technology plays a central role, enabling accurate capture of events and consistent application of policy. This helps authori- ties manage increasingly complex urban environments while en- suring enforcement remains proportionate and fair. A Focus on Proportionate Enforcement Across its services, Marston Holdings emphasises accountability and proportionality. This is reflected in its recovery services, in- cluding Marston Recovery, where activity is supported by data- led decision-making and a strong focus on fairness and the treat- ment of vulnerable individuals. 24 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
Corporate Member Portraits | EPA NEWS Supporting Sustainable Places The group also includes consultancy expertise—delivered through Project Centre—in transport planning, urban design and environmental services. Alongside this, environmental monitor- ing technology provides real-time data to support informed deci- sion-making and more sustainable outcomes. A Collaborative Approach Working closely with public and private sector partners, Marston Holdings operates as a delivery partner, aligning services and ex- pertise to support more efficient systems, better user experienc- es and sustainable communities. https://marstonholdings.co.uk/ More than 360 Multi-Storey Car Parks in More than 36 Years EPA BRONZE MEMBER Whether it’s a design solution, adherence to deadlines or quality of execution: you can rely on Huber Parking. We advise, develop, design, build, maintain and operate car parks – in a one-stop shopping fashion, should you wish. We are not interested in the short-term maximum benefit, but in the optimal overall benefit throughout the life cycle for all parties involved. In doing so, we rely on tried and tested methods where they work best - and break new ground when required. This overarching can-do men- tality combined with engineering-driven forward thinking has made us a successful family business on the international stage: with comprehensive expertise, passion and straightforward con- tact with our consultants. https://huber-parking.com/en/ PBW. Parken verbindet (Parking connects). EPA BRONZE MEMBER Since 1994, we have been creating and managing parking infra- structure across Baden-Württemberg. We offer a range of servic- es, from consulting and operations management to mainte- nance, refurbishment and the development of innovative mobil- ity solutions. Our goal is clear: to shape the future of mobility with our expertise and know-how. We manage around 310 parking garages and over 28,000 park- ing spaces in more than 50 cities across Baden-Württemberg. Short-term and long-term parkers, public sector employees and students rely on our services every day. With 215 locations and over 1,300 charging points, we are the undisputed market leader in charging infrastructure. Drawing on our expertise in e-mobili- ty, we develop innovative parking and mobility solutions. PBW is headquartered in Stuttgart. We are proud of the expertise and dedication of our 130-strong team. They develop and imple- ment modern and efficient parking management solutions every day, drawing on their knowledge in operations, technology, re- furbishment, and administration. We are also an active member of Bundesverband Parken e.V., contributing to the association’s committees for Verkehr- spolitischer Ausschuss (Transport Policy), Technology, Market- ing, Construction and Electromobility. www.pbw.de Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 25
EPA NEWS k c o t s r e t t u h S ) 5 ( © The European Parking Card Between Physical Security and Digital Reality By Dan Wolff, Eurotran T wo years ago, we already explored in Parking Trend Interna- tional1 the European Commission’s 2023 proposal for a har- monised European Parking Card (EPC) for persons with disa- bilities and the opportunities it could bring for cross-border mobility and parking enforcement. Since then, the legislative process has moved rapidly. Directive (EU) 2024/28412 establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disa- bilities is now in place. Attention has therefore shifted towards the technical implementation of the new card through a draft Delegated Regulation on its digital and security features. The debate has also evolved. What initially appeared to be a rath- er technical discussion about QR codes and other security features (incl. potential RFID chips) has become a broader reflection on the future of parking enforcement, interoperability and digital mobility services in Europe. For the European Parking Association, one key message remains unchanged: while stronger security features for the physical card are welcome, Europe should avoid locking itself into outdated techno- logical (paper-based) approaches when parking enforcement itself is already becoming fully digital. A Political Success – and a Sensitive One The adoption of the European Parking Card is undeniably an impor- tant political and social achievement at EU level. The objective is clear: persons with disabilities should be able to travel freely across the European Union without facing administrative barriers, confu- sion over national parking permits or unjustified fines. The political sensitivity surrounding disability policy also explains why the Com- mission continues to prioritise a physical card, even while discussing digital (security) features. For many stakeholders representing per- sons with disabilities, the physical card remains an important token of their rights and accessibility needs. This sensitivity is reflected in the latest consultation process on the European Disability Card and European Parking Card – digital features for the physical versions. The consultation opened on 15 April and closed 30 April, leaving stakeholders only two weeks to re- ply3. The European Disability Forum (EDF), one of the most active NGOs on this file, strongly supports additional accessibility require- ments for the card itself, including tactile orientation markers to help blind and visually impaired users identify the correct orientation of the card behind the windshield “without sighted help”. EDF, under- 26 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
standably, also insists that security improvements should not come at the expense of privacy or accessibility. more than adding increasingly sophisticated features to a physical card. EPA NEWS RFID: Innovation or Distraction? One of the controversial aspects of the consultation concerns the possible inclusion of RFID chips in the new card. Interestingly, even within the same Member State, opinions diverge significantly. Au- thorities in Berlin expressed strong interest in RFID, while highlight- ing the usefulness of scan cars combined with national parking regis- ters but dismissing these for short-term practical reasons (proper to the legislative situation in Germany). In further correspondence with EPA, Berlin representatives duly confirmed that a “national register linked to a national app system is currently the most efficient solu- tion for the deployment of scan cars.” Consequently, EPA responded that RFID risks becoming an unnec- essary parallel technology. Parking operators across Europe have al- ready invested massively in ANPR infrastructure and scan cars. Re- quiring additional RFID readers would increase costs without solving the core interoperability challenge (especially as a discussion re- mains whether such chips should be readable at a distance of >1m or not). The debate becomes even more nuanced when looking at other German cities. Heidelberg, for example, has shown strong openness towards broader digital approaches. This illustrates a wider Europe- an reality: there is no single national (not even local) model for digital parking enforcement. Different cities and regions are progressing at a different pace and with different technological preferences, though the overall evolution is clearly towards a fully digital system5. Privacy Concerns and the EDF Position While parking operators focus on interoperability and enforcement ef- ficiency, disability organisations understandably place greater empha- sis on privacy and accessibility. EDF, for example, opposes storing vehi- cle licence plates on RFID chips (the one, optional, addition which EPA could support) because vehicles used by cardholders may frequently change. EDF also warned against the risk of “bulk harvesting” of disa- bility-related data if RFID chips can be read from long distances. ➜ At the same time, many parking operators and public authorities are asking a different question: if parking enforcement is already mostly digital, why are we still centering the discussion around a physical card? From Visual inspection to Digital Enforcement EPA, having been involved in this file since 2023, also contributed to the recent European Commission consultation. Its response4, based on its own “shadow expert group” technical recommendations from June 2024, reflects the operational reality observed across Europe: parking enforcement increasingly relies on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), scan cars and digital parking databases. The current draft Delegated Regulation that was published for the consultation, focuses heavily on QR-code verification and optional RFID features. While these tools may help verify whether a card is au- thentic, they do not necessarily help enforcement officers determine whether parking rights are actually valid in practice. As EPA noted in its consultation response, verification alone is not enforcement. Modern parking systems operate primarily through vehicle li- cence plates connected to parking rights databases. This is particu- larly true in cities using scan cars and ANPR-based enforcement. Without interoperability between the EPC and these digital systems, persons with disabilities may continue to face unnecessary fines sim- ply because enforcement systems cannot recognise their parking rights automatically. EPA therefore continues to advocate for: • interoperability and integration with ANPR systems; • interoperable national and/or European databases; • mechanisms allowing vehicle registration information sharing for cross-border use; • hybrid online/offline verification systems; • recognising parking enforcers as authorised users (both public and private sector); • future-proof legislation allowing technological evolution. Importantly, EPA’s position is not isolated. Similar concerns ap- pear in contributions from several other stakeholders. A Growing Consensus on Digitalisation POLIS, the European network of cities and regions working on mobil- ity innovation, shares many of EPA’s concerns. POLIS welcomed the EPC initiative but questioned whether the proposed Regulation is “sufficiently future-proof” given that “the entire parking system is digitised”. POLIS also highlighted that QR-code solutions alone do not enable camera-based or scan-car enforcement. Similarly, the French parking association FNMS (an EPA Full Mem- ber) emphasised that parking control systems across Europe already rely primarily on vehicle registration and database checks rather than physical inspection of cards. FNMS explicitly stated that RFID “is not suitable for controlling on-street parking” and called for interop- erable APIs and database ecosystems instead. These contributions demonstrate an emerging consensus among many parking and mobility actors: digital interoperability matters Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 27
EPA NEWS ➜ This illustrates the delicate balance the European Commission must now strike: • preventing fraud; • enabling effective enforcement; • ensuring accessibility; • protecting privacy; • and preserving political acceptability. The ongoing consultation process has therefore become much more than a technical discussion. It is effectively a debate about how Europe wants to manage mobility rights in an increasingly digital environment. Beyond the Physical Card? Despite the current focus on digital security features of the physical card, momentum towards further digitalisation is clearly growing. EPA contin- ues to advocate for a long-term transition towards fully digital parking rights linked to vehicle licence plates and interoperable databases. Such an approach would dramatically reduce fraud, simplify cross-border en- forcement and minimise the risk of unjustified penalties. Encouragingly, broader EU policy developments may support this direction. In April 2026, the European Commission published its initia- tive for a “Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook”, explicitly highlighting the need for “future-proof and adaptive legislation”. The transport chapter also calls for further digitalisation and improved in- teroperability across transport systems. This broader simplification agenda may eventually influence future revisions of the EPC frame- work itself. It could also provide an opportunity for renewed discus- sions with the European Commission’s DG Justice and Consumers di- rectorate (DG JUST, in the lead on this file) on how digital parking rights and interoperability should evolve in the coming years. The Road Ahead The European Parking Card remains a major step forward for the mobility rights of persons with disabilities across Europe. Few stake- holders disagree on the ultimate objective: enabling seamless and fair access to parking rights throughout the Union. The challenge lies in how to achieve this objective in practice. For EPA and many actors in the parking sector, the consultation has demonstrated that focusing solely on the physical card risks missing the bigger picture. Europe’s parking ecosystem is already digital. Enforcement increasingly depends on connected databases, ANPR systems and interoperable mobility platforms. The key ques- tion is therefore no longer whether digitalisation will happen — but how quickly European legislation will adapt to that reality. As discussions continue between the European Commission, cities, disability organisations and the parking sector, the EPC may ultimately become more than a parking permit. It could become one of the first real test cases for how Europe combines digital mobility, accessibility, interoperability and data protection in everyday urban life. ■ 1 See https://europeanparking.eu/wp-content/magazines/PTI_0124/#22 2 See https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2024/2841/oj 3 Despite such short notice, 53 responses were received which can all be found here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/ initiatives/14767-European-Disability-Card-and-European-Parking-Card- digital-features-for-the-physical-versions_en. 4 See https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/ initiatives/14767-European-Disability-Card-and-European-Parking-Card- digital-features-for-the-physical-versions/F33398809_en 5 This was also confirmed by representatives from Prague and Bratislava du- ring the recent Annual Conference of the Czech Parking Association, another EPA Full Member. EPA Note This topic, as part of EPA’s Enforcement WG activities, will also be discussed at the EPA Annual General Assembly, 24-25 September in Dublin. 28 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
EPA NEWS EPA and UITP Sign Cooperation Agreement Building Bridges The European Parking Association (EPA) and the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation between the two organisations and support the development of more integrated and sustainable urban mobility systems. R epresenting the global public trans- port sector, UITP brings together public transport authorities, opera- tors, industry suppliers, policymakers and research organisations from around the world. The agreement reflects a shared com- mitment to addressing modern mobility challenges and advancing sustainable trans- port solutions for the benefit of both organi- sations' members and society as a whole. The agreement provides a framework for collaboration in several areas, including publications and knowledge sharing, partici- pation in each other's conferences and events, exploration of joint opportunities within externally funded projects, training activities, and advocacy and communication initiatives. The UITP Academy could notably serve as a model for future EPA training pro- grammes, for instance on multimodal mobil- ity hubs. Global Parking Transformation WG Particular attention will be given to topics such as parking transformation, mobility hubs, multimodal integration, digital mobili- ty platforms, shared mobility, and sustaina- ble urban transport policies. The agreement also encourages cooperation between rele- vant EPA and UITP working groups and ex- pert bodies to support the exchange of knowledge and best practices. In particular, EPA will be invited as a permanent observer to UITP’s recently created Global Parking Transformation WG, to which meetings both EPA’s President and President Emeritus have already participated. For EPA, the partnership represents an- other step in strengthening relationships with organisations across the wider mobility ecosystem. As cities increasingly seek inte- grated solutions to challenges such as con- gestion, accessibility, decarbonisation and efficient use of public space, closer coopera- k c o t s r e t t u h S © The UITP represents the global public transport sector. tion between the parking and public trans- port sectors is becoming increasingly impor- tant. This is also reflected through EPA’s invi- tation for UITP to join its Annual General Assembly in Dublin in September (See EPA News article on p. 32). The Memorandum of Understanding was formally signed in Brussels on 23 June be- tween the UITP Secretary General and the EPA Executive Director during the UITP Gen- eral Assembly and will remain in force for an initial period of three years. ■ UITP at a glance UITP is the International Association of Public Transport and a passionate advocate of sustainable urban mobility. 2000 Member organisations 13 Global offices 100+ Countries Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 29
EPA NEWS EPA Joins ERTICO – ITS Europe A Seat at the Mobility Table The European Parking Association’s recent decision to join the ERTICO Partnership1 marks an important step in EPA’s ongoing efforts to position parking at the heart of Europe’s evolving mobility ecosystem. While this development represents a new chapter in EPA's relationship with ERTICO - ITS Europe, the significance extends far beyond a formal partnership agreement. M obility is becoming increasingly in- terconnected. Parking is no longer a standalone activity concerned solely with vehicle storage. Today, it is close- ly linked to shared mobility, electromobility, urban logistics, digital mobility services, da- ta exchange, and the efficient management of public space. As cities work to reduce congestion, improve accessibility, support decarbonisation, and manage competing demands on urban infrastructure, parking has become an essential enabler of broader mobility objectives. ERTICO – ITS Europe provides a unique platform where public authorities, cities, transport operators, vehicle manufacturers, technology providers, research institutions, and mobility service providers work togeth- er to shape the future of transport – includ- ing via EU-funded collaborative research projects. By joining this community, EPA strengthens its ability to ensure that the parking sector is represented in such pro- jects, discussions and initiatives that influ- ence the future direction of mobility policy and innovation across Europe. Collaboration Across Sectors The partnership also supports the priorities set out in the EPA Manifesto 2025–20302. Whether the focus is resilient infrastructure, electromobility integration, urban logistics and kerbside management, or digitalisation On 10 June 2026, ERTICO – ITS Europe welcomed Premium Partners to its annual Activity Develop- ment Day at the ERTICO offices in Brussels, bringing together over 80 experts from across the intel- ligent transport and mobility ecosystem. EPA's Executive Director and its European Affairs & Projects Manager attended and can be found on the right-hand side of the main picture. I O C T R E ) 4 ( © 30 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
EPA NEWS and data-driven services, collaboration across sectors is increasingly necessary to deliver effective solutions. Parking cannot achieve these goals in isolation, nor can cit- ies develop integrated mobility systems without considering the role that parking in- frastructure and services play within them. EPA already works closely with ERTICO through the Enhancing Automated Valet Parking platform (EAVP)3, expert contribu- tions to each other’s flagship events and partnering within EU-funded projects of mu- tual interest. Taking the next logical step of becoming a formal ERTICO Partner will ena- ble further joint thought leadership and re- search initiatives for both organizations. Statement by the EPA Executive Director Tom Antonissen, EPA Executive Director, commented: “Having personally worked with several existing ERTICO Partners in the past, even serving as a member of the ERTICO Strategy Committee, I am very pleased that we are now formally bringing EPA within the Partnership and I look forward to making the case for smart parking management being crucial for sustainable urban mobility. As mobility systems become smarter, more connected, and increasingly data-driven, the need for collaboration between sectors will only grow. Through our membership of ERTI- CO, EPA can help ensure that parking exper- tise contributes to developments in intelligent transport systems, digital mobility services, automation, urban logistics, and multimodal travel.” Statement by the CEO of ERTICO-ITS Europe Joost Vantomme, CEO of ERTICO-ITS Europe summarised: “We are happy to welcome the European Parking Association to the ERTICO Partnership. Parking is a critical enabler of smart and sustainable urban mobility, con- necting infrastructure, services and users. By bringing EPA into our ecosystem, we strength- en our collective ability to integrate parking into the wider mobility landscape and accel- erate the development of seamless, multi- modal solutions across Europe.” Ultimately, joining ERTICO is about more than membership. It is about ensuring that the parking sector has a seat at the table where the future of mobility is being dis- cussed and helping to connect the dots be- tween parking, transport, logistics, technol- ogy, and urban development. For EPA and its members, that represents an important opportunity to strengthen the sector's voice and influence in shaping the sustain- able, connected, and resilient cities of to- ■ morrow. 1 To see all +/- 120 ERTICO Partners divided over 10 categories please see here (EPA falls under the “Users” category): https://ertico.com/who-are- we/our-partnership/our-partners. 2 See https://europeanparking.eu/epa-manifes- to-2025-2030/. 3 See https://eavp.eu/. Perfection for your car park Fast, quiet, reliable, and secure – our spe- cialized doors for car parks impress with their versatility and flexibility. With their individual features, such as compact dimen- sions for cramped installation conditions or burglar-resistant equipment, the different door types can be adapted to the respective circumstances. For more information visit: www.efaflex.com/car-parks Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 31
EPA NEWS m o c . k c o t s r e t t u h S / y h p a r g o t o h p k n o m m i j © A view of the Millennium Footbridge over the River Liffey in Dublin city centre at sunset. EPA Annual General Assembly … … Including EU Policy Forum on Mobility & Parking in Dublin This September, the European Parking Association (EPA) will bring together its members – both the 20 national parking associa- tions and over 65 Corporate Members from across geographical Europe – for its Annual General Assembly (AGA) 2026 in Dublin, Ireland. T aking place on 24–25 September, this “members only” annual gathering combines EPA’s formal General As- sembly with a high-level EU Policy Forum exploring the role of parking in Europe’s rap- idly evolving mobility landscape. Why Dublin, Why Now? Hosted with the appreciated support from the Irish Parking Association (IPA) and Meet in Ireland, the event takes place during Ire- land's upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union. From 1 July to 31 December 2026, Ireland will be at the centre of European decision-making, chairing EU- level negotiations and helping to shape dis- cussions on issues ranging from competi- tiveness and digital transformation to sus- tainability and infrastructure investment. EU Policy Forum The first day of EPA’s flagship event this year will open with a welcome from EPA Presi- dent Theo Thuis and IPA Chair Brian Moore, before delegates turn their attention to the European policies and projects shaping ur- ban mobility and parking management. The first session will bring together speak- ers from the Irish Department of Transport, the European Commission and Eurocities. The newly installed Unit for Innovation and Urban Mobility at the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport (DG MOVE), will provide the European Commission's per- spective on the policies and initiatives influ- encing the future of mobility, while the Head of Mobility at Eurocities, the largest network of European cities with over 200 large cities among their membership, will offer their in- sights on relevant EU policies and EU-funded projects. Representing major cities across Europe on a wide variety of policy issues, Eurocities brings an important urban per- spective to discussions on mobility, public space and city development. The session will be moderated by EPA Executive Director Tom Antonissen and conclude with an inter- active Q&A. 32 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
EPA NEWS Historic commercial buildings on Essex Street East and Eustace Street in Dublin’s Old Town m o c . k c o t s r e t t u h S / a i J n u k g n a W © The afternoon will continue with an inter- active discussion under the thought-provok- ing moniker Beyond the “Parking Bubble”: The Value of Cross-Sector Collaboration, moderated by EPA President Theo Thuis. This session will explore how the parking sector can work more effectively alongside other parts of the wider mobility ecosystem and why such cross-sectoral collaboration is be- coming increasingly important for cities and operators alike. The panel will feature representatives from ALICE, the European Technology Plat- form for Logistics, ESPORG, the European Secure Parking Organisation, and UITP, the International Association for Public Trans- port. These organisations will highlight their own initiatives from the sectors they repre- sent – urban logistics, truck parking and public transport respectively – and offer concrete ways for parking stakeholders to engage with them. Together, the two Forum sessions reflect a key message for the sector: parking (poli- cy) matters and is no longer a standalone activity. It is increasingly connected to wider discussions around mobility, logistics, pub- lic transport, digitalisation and urban devel- opment. Alongside these sessions, EPA members’ delegates will have ample opportunity to meet colleagues and exchange ideas during a welcome lunch, coffee breaks and an even- ing programme in exceptional surroundings. The first day concludes with networking drinks and a seated Gala Dinner hosted by EPA and its valued sponsors, EPA’s five Plati- num Members: APCOA, Arrive, INDIGO, Inter- parking and Q-Park. The General Assembly On the second day, EPA members will gather for the Association’s formal Annual General Assembly. The meeting is meant to fulfil EPA’s statu- tory obligations and provides members with the opportunity to review and approve the Association’s annual accounts, budget and Board report, as well as participate in the elections. This year, members will elect seven open Board positions: one Vice Presi- dent, three representatives of national parking associations and three representa- tives of Corporate Members1. Delegates will also hear activity reports from EPA’s five Working Groups2, high- lighting the initiatives, achievements and projects delivered over the past year. These Board-level presentations provide a valuable overview of the practical work being undertaken by EPA members and experts across a wide range of topics affecting our sector, from policy and com- munications to enforcement and electro- mobility. More importantly, the General Assembly enables members to contribute directly to the future direction of the Association and to the priorities EPA will pursue on be- half of the European parking community. ■ 1 To see which positions are open for (re-)election, please check the timelines and mandates on https://europeanparking.eu/board/. 2 For a brief overview, see https://european- parking.eu/working-groups/. 3 For more information on EPA membership, please see https://europeanparking.eu/ membership/ and feel free to contact us at epa@europeanparking.eu. Why Participate? The EPA Annual General Assembly is much more than a statutory meeting. It is an opportunity to engage directly with representatives of EU institutions, Europe's lead- ing cities, mobility stakeholders and industry leaders in a setting designed to encour- age dialogue, collaboration and the exchange of ideas. EPA members have already received more detailed information about the venue and registration process. For organisations that are not yet members of EPA, there is still time to join the Association and participate in this year’s event! Membership provides access to a strong European network, specialist Working Groups, policy engagement opportunities and industry knowledge that extends far beyond the two-day pro- gramme itself3. At a time when the parking sector is playing an increasingly important role within Europe's wider mobility ecosystem, EPA membership offers a valuable platform to help organisations stay informed, connected and influential. We look forward to welcoming our members – and new members – to Dublin this September! Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 33
EPA NEWS G R O P S E © ESPORG – The European Safe & Secure Parking Organisation Truck Parking’s Expanding Role in Europe’s Mobility Ecosystem Based on an interview with ESPORG, the European Safe & Secure Parking Organisation1 – edited for length by EPA F or decades, truck parking was largely viewed as a practical necessity – somewhere drivers could stop, rest and continue their journey. Today, however, truck parking is increasingly recognised as strategic infrastructure, with implications for road safety, logistics, digitalisation, electrifi- cation and even military mobility. As Europe seeks to improve freight efficiency, support the energy transition and strengthen resil- ience, the role of Safe and Secure (Truck) Parking Areas is expanding far beyond their traditional function. This evolution is reflected in the work of ESPORG, the European Secure (Truck) Park- ing Organisation. Through its involvement in the development of an ‘EU Parking Stand- ard’, its advocacy for data sharing and inter- operability, and its focus on sustainability and resilience, ESPORG sees truck parking as playing an increasingly important role in Eu- rope’s wider mobility ecosystem. From Industry Initiative to EU Standard One of the most significant developments in recent years has been the introduction of the EU Parking Standard for Safe and Secure Parking Areas (SSPAs). According to ESPORG, the EU Parking Standard is a good example of how industry expertise can inform public policy. It evolved from strong industry demand and technical groundwork. Early studies, including the 2018–2019 SSTPA study coordinated by ES- PORG, highlighted the urgent need for har- monised security and service levels across Europe. Delegated Safe and Secure Parking Areas. The Commis- sion subsequently formalised the standard through (EU) 2022/1012, which supplements the driving and rest-time rules set out in Regulation (EC) No 561/2006, as amended by the Mobility Package2. Regulation For ESPORG, this legal connection is cru- cial. Professional drivers must comply with strict driving and rest-time requirements. Without sufficient certified Safe and Secure Parking Areas, operators and drivers cannot legally and safely meet those obligations. Certification under the four-level system – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – therefore serves both as a compliance tool and as a quality benchmark. This work led to the establishment of the European Commission’s Expert Group on “Certification raises standards across the board by creating a common, trusted lan- 34 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
guage for the entire supply chain,” ESPORG explains. availability data provided in a standardised format. EPA NEWS proving operational efficiency while sup- porting the wider decarbonisation of freight transport. ESPORG identifies several challenges that must be addressed, including grid capacity, permitting procedures, financing and busi- ness-case certainty. At the same time, it sees opportunities in the form of new revenue streams, improved sustainability perfor- mance and the development of multimodal logistics hubs that combine parking, charg- ing and other transport services. this To support transition, ESPORG launched its Voluntary Green Truck Parking Standard5 in January 2026. Built upon the existing EU Parking Standard, the initiative introduces four progressive green levels and aims to encourage more sustainable parking operations. ESPORG sees Safe and Secure Parking Ar- eas as key enablers of the energy transition in road freight. Planning Around User Needs While technology and infrastructure are im- portant, ESPORG emphasises that successful truck parking projects must begin with a clear understanding of user needs. One of the key lessons emerging from truck parking development is that “Infrastruc- ture must be planned around user needs rather than simply around available space.” According to ESPORG, successful facilities combine location, security, services that support driver wellbeing, operational effi- ciency and financial sustainability. ESPORG’s own parking map already pro- vides an overview of certified and develop- ing Safe and Secure Parking Areas within its network across Europe. However, challenges remain. ESPORG points to uneven implementation of dynam- ic data across Member States and sees sig- nificant opportunities for collaboration with organisations such as EPA and the Alliance for Parking Data Standards (APDS) on com- mon data models that could serve both truck and car parking environments. For drivers, the benefits are immediate. Better information reduces search times, lowers stress levels and helps users find suit- able parking more efficiently. Truck Parking and the Energy Transition The transition to electric mobility presents both challenges and opportunities for the truck parking sector. According to ESPORG, heavy-duty vehicle charging operates on an entirely different scale from passenger car charging. Power requirements are significantly higher, grid connections are often insufficient, and in- vestment costs can be substantial. Yet truck parking facilities are uniquely positioned to support the transition. “Truck parking areas are naturally posi- tioned to become energy service hubs be- cause drivers already stop there to comply with driving and rest-time regulations.” The benefits extend across the logistics ecosystem. Drivers, hauliers, shippers, freight forwarders and insurers all gain a clearer understanding of what to expect from a certified facility. Certification also supports improvements in security meas- ures, operational procedures and service provision while helping build confidence among users. ESPORG’s role is to translate the legal framework into practical implementation through initiatives such as their EU Parking Academy, pre-audit support and the promo- tion of certified Safe and Secure Parking Ar- eas throughout Europe3. Data Becomes as Important as Physical Infrastructure Like many areas of the mobility sector, truck parking is becoming increasingly data-driv- en. Drivers and fleet operators are no longer simply looking for a parking space. They in- creasingly need real-time information on parking availability, services, security levels, charging facilities and booking options. According to ESPORG, “Data is becoming as important as physical infrastructure.” The organisation strongly supports data standardisation, which is also required un- der the EU ITS Directive and its Delegated Regulation for information services related to safe and secure truck parking4. It advo- cates for both high-quality static informa- tion, such as location, security level and available services, and dynamic real-time G R O P S E © This means charging can be integrated into mandatory rest periods, potentially im- The organisation also highlights the im- portance of blending public and private ➜ s r e i z é B e p a t E k c u r T © Truck Etape Béziers (France) — Winner of both the Green Truck Parking Management Award 2026 and the new “Home Away from Home” Award 2026. Security team at Truck Étape Béziers Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 35
EPA NEWS ➜ funding. Many transport infrastructure pro- jects generate wider societal benefits that are not fully reflected in direct revenues. As a result, European programmes such as the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)6 and its Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF) can play an important role in helping bridge funding gaps and accelerating de- ployment. To support operators and investors, ES- PORG regularly organises webinars on fund- ing and financing opportunities for Safe and Secure Parking Areas. These events focus on the entire financial lifecycle of a project, from project design and securing finance to construction cashflow management and long-term operational profitability. Based on such a preliminary comparative introduction, ESPORG and EPA seem to have quite a few opportunities for joint advocacy on topics such as digitalisation, alternative fuels, data standards and sustainable mobil- ity. Many of the challenges facing truck and car parking are indeed converging! Parking and Europe’s Resilience Perhaps the most striking example of truck parking’s changing role can be found in dis- cussions around military mobility. Secure truck parking areas are now rec- ognised as strategic dual-use infrastructure within the European Commission’s Military Mobility Package7 and the European Parlia- ment’s work on a ‘Military Schengen’. At ESPORG’s Annual Conference in Brus- sels in March 2026, policymakers, military representatives and transport leaders gath- ered to discuss the issue. The conclusion was clear. “In the context of military mobility, park- ing is no longer peripheral – it is essential.” The discussions highlighted the growing importance of dual-use infrastructure. While Safe and Secure Parking Areas are designed primarily for civilian logistics operations, they are increasingly expected to support military requirements in both planned and emergency situations. Under the EU Military Mobility frame- work, parking areas may be required to sup- port Host Nation Support operations, includ- ing planned movements, refuelling and rest activities. They may also be required to pro- vide priority access during emergencies. G R O P S E © Winner of the 2025 ESPORG Award: Recharge City in Denmark. As ESPORG notes, “a facility designed for truck drivers today could tomorrow become part of Europe’s crisis response system.” This evolution requires preparation, com- mon standards and close cooperation be- tween stakeholders, but it also demon- strates how the role of truck parking is ex- panding beyond its traditional function8. One Parking Ecosystem Although truck parking and car parking are often viewed as separate sectors, ESPORG sees increasing overlap between the two. “The strongest connections are digitalisa- tion, electrification, user experience and da- ta management.” Both sectors are investing in reservation systems, occupancy monitoring, payment integration and real-time information ser- vices. Both are adapting to the transition to- wards electric mobility. And both face grow- ing expectations from users regarding safety, convenience and sustainability. For ESPORG, these shared challenges cre- ate opportunities for greater collaboration across a comprehensive parking community. As mobility systems become increasingly connected, many of the distinctions be- tween truck and car parking are beginning to blur. Data standards, charging infrastruc- ture, user experience and digital services are becoming common priorities across the wid- er parking ecosystem. In conclusion, truck parking has gone from being somewhere drivers sleep to being stra- tegic European infrastructure. In many ways, the challenges facing truck parking are no longer confined to truck parking alone. As ESPORG’s experience demonstrates, issues such as digitalisation, data sharing, electrifi- cation and user experience are increasingly shared across the wider mobility ecosystem. These themes will be explored further during EPA’s EU Policy Forum on Mobility & Parking on 24 September in Dublin, where ESPORG General Manager Dirk Penasse will join the interactive session Beyond the “Parking Bub- ble”: The Value of Cross-Sector Collaboration, moderated by EPA President Theo Thuis. ■ 1 https://esporg.eu/ 2 See https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_ del/2022/1012/oj/eng. 3 One may notice similarities with EPA’s own European Standard Parking Award (ESPA, https:// europeanparking.eu/espa-off-street/), which is currently being revised by EPA’s Policy & Strategy Committee. These developments will also be pre- sented during the EPA Annual General Assembly in September in Dublin. 4 See https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport- themes/smart-mobility/road/its-directive-and- action-plan/safe-and-secure-truck-parking_en 5 See https://greenparkingstandard.eu/ 6 See https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/ connecting-europe-facility_en 7 https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-the- mes/military-mobility_en 8 An evolution EPA is expected to follow, in line with the Belgian Defense Minister’s call to action during last year’s European Parking Conference in Brussels and as part of Policy Priority 1 of the EPA Manifesto 2025-2030 (https://europeanparking. eu/epa-manifesto-2025-2030/). 36 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
INTRODUCING Promotion Scheidt & Bachmann Parking Solutions entervo infinite – Ready for today. Built for tomorrow. Annegret Ganzleben, City Parking Deutschland Betriebs GmbH & Co. KG, Nordendorf, on the introduction of entervo infinite from Scheidt & Bachmann Parking Solutions at the shopping centre and hotel in Munich-Trudering: Digital freedom in everyday operations I am responsible for several free-flow car parks and am happy to share my experi- ence with entervo infinite as a free-flow system - a modern, cloud-based solution that has made my day-to-day work notice- ably easier. Full transparency – anytime, anywhere As a Regional Manager and Authorized Of- ficer, I particularly value the fact that I can access a complete overview of each site at any time via my mobile devices, regard- less of location. The dashboard provides a clear snapshot of occupancy, revenue and the operational system status - well struc- tured, intuitive and without detours. It can be tailored to my needs, which allowed me, for example, to easily add the dis- counting module. Added value for clients and team Our client benefits as well: a customised dashboard view has been set up for them, enabling them to track revenue develop- ment at any time. At the same time, our employees have exactly the functions they need for their operational tasks - clearly displayed, role-specific and easy to use. Optimised customer communication on site Within the car park itself, the fast trans- mission of licence plates to the large dis- plays ensures optimal customer commu- nication. We deliberately chose a free-flow entervo infinite as a free-flow system at the Shopping Centre and Hotel in Munich-Trudering system - and the feedback confirms this decision: no complaints, no negative re- sponses. The pay station as a point of contact is clearly structured, tidy and self-explanato- ry. The well-designed customer guidance saves both time and costs. The language selection is particularly appreciated, as it makes it much easier for our international hotel guests to use the hotel tariff. Efficient back-office processes entervo infinite also impresses internally. When a customer contacts the call centre because they forgot to request a receipt and did not retrieve the digital receipt ei- ther, the intuitive operation and clearly structured interface allow for quick and efficient re-issuance - a major advantage for us. The enforcement module for non-pay- ers is logically designed, user-friendly and provides effective support for our pro- cesses. My conclusion entervo infinite is a modern, flexible and exceptionally user-friendly system that sets new standards in efficiency and cus- tomer orientation. A clear recommenda- tion - and additional locations are already ■ being planned. i l s n o i t u o S g n k r a P n n a m h c a B & t d e h c S © i Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 37
BEST PRACTICE Fastned New Record Figures for Charging Revenue and Energy Supplied Fastned, one of Europe’s leading fast-charging companies, has achieved new record figures for charging revenue and the volume of energy supplied in the first quarter of 2026. According to the company, charging revenue rose to 39.2 million euros during the reporting period, representing a 40 per cent increase on the previous year’s figure. In the 2025 financial year, Fastned had gener- ated charging revenue in excess of 100 million euros for the first time. T his development is being driven by renewed acceleration in the growth of the European electric car market. The company reports that there are now al- most nine million electric vehicles (EVs) reg- istered across Fastned’s nine active markets. At the same time, the EV market share in Eu- rope rose by 16 per cent in January and Feb- ruary compared with the previous year. In the first quarter of 2026, Fastned supplied a total of 55.6 GWh of renewable energy to elec- tric car drivers. Through more than 2.1 million charging sessions across nine countries, the company enabled over 277 million kilometres of emission-free driving. All three figures marked new quarterly records for Fastned. Network expansion continues The Netherlands-based company also con- tinued its growth trajectory in terms of net- work expansion: in the first quarter, Fastned commissioned eight new stations in Den- mark, Italy, France and the United Kingdom. A further four stations were expanded or modernised. According to the figures, the European Fastned network comprised a to- tal of 414 fast-charging stations by the end of the first quarter of 2026. German court upholds open competition On 6 March 2026, the Düsseldorf Higher Re- gional Court ruled in favour of Fastned in a public procurement review case against the federal government’s Autobahn GmbH. The ruling states that fast charging is a sector in its own right and that access to charging lo- cations on motorways must in future be awarded through open and transparent ten- dering procedures. Fastned has been advo- cating this principle since its foundation. Having already been confirmed in the Neth- erlands, it has now also been reinforced at a high level in Germany. “The global upheavals in the energy mar- kets in the first quarter of 2026 demonstrate how urgently Europe must accelerate electri- fication and break free from its dependence on expensive and unreliable imports of fossil fuels,” says Michiel Langezaal, co-founder and CEO of Fastned. “Affordable and reliable fast charging is crucial if electric cars are to become suitable for everyday use every- where and for everyone.” ■ Expansion continues: This Fastned charging station in Castellanza, Italy, opened in March 2026. d e n t s a F © 38 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
BEST PRACTICE t r o p r i A s l e s s u r B ) 2 ( © 6,000 m² of solar panels have been installed on the roof, generating 1,150 MWh per year. Brussels Airport New Parking Facility with 650 Charging Points and 6,000m² of Solar Panels A new parking tower has been inaugurated at Brussels Airport, glare from the sun affecting visibility for the pilots. In total, 650 charging points for electric vehicles will also be installed. With this new parking facility, Brussels Airport is taking a concrete step within Hub 3.0, the investment project designed to prepare the airport infrastructure for the future. The centralisation of car hire companies creates space for the future expansion of the arrivals hall and the development of an intermodal hub, where different modes of transport—train, tram, bus, bicycle, and car—will be optimally in- tegrated. In a next phase, a pedestrian bridge will also be constructed to directly connect the car park with the terminal. ■ directly opposite the current drop-off zone. The building of- fers more than 2,500 parking spaces for both car rental com- panies and airport community staff. The parking facility is within walking distance of the terminal, covers an area of 90,000 m², and has eight floors. Its construction placed a strong emphasis on sus- tainable electrification and circularity. Until recently, vehicles of car hire companies were located in Park- ing 2, right in front of the departures hall. These will now be relocat- ed to the new facility. Service points and offices, previously situated in the arrivals hall, are also being relocated. As a result, all car rental services will now be centralised in one location, offering travellers a significantly more convenient experience. Demolition with Focus on Circularity During the preparatory works, the former parking area on the site was first demolished, with a focus on circularity. Through selective demolition, most materials were recovered or reused, including on other sites within the airport area. In addition to the circular ap- proach to demolition, sustainable technologies were also used in the development of the new building. 6,000 m² of solar panels have been installed on the roof, generating 1,150 MWh per year. A special non- reflective film has been applied to the solar panels to prevent the Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 39 The new parking facility will serve as a central location for car hire services, within walking distance of the terminal.
BEST PRACTICE MSR-Traffic Parking Guidance System in Emmendingen Operates on a Sustainable Power Supply Better wayfinding for road users – whilst reducing the energy supply burden: the expansion of the parking guidance system in Emmendingen has combined both of these benefits. I n collaboration with Netze BW and the town of Emmendingen in southern Ger- many, MSR-Traffic has integrated four new locations into the existing parking guid- ance system. What makes this project spe- cial is that the new signposts are completely self-sufficient in terms of energy. Instead of relying on conventional mains connections, the systems are powered by east–west-fac- ing photovoltaic systems and battery stor- age. The project thus kills two birds with one stone: modern traffic management and a sustainable power supply in a single system. Particularly in areas where infrastructure costs, groundworks or mains connections would entail additional expense, solar-pow- ered displays offer new opportunities for towns and local authorities to flexibly ex- pand their traffic management systems, ex- plains MSR-Traffic. Parking Search Traffic Various components from MSR-Traffic’s port- folio were used: RoadSign Beta displays, matrix LED displays, tubular masts and pho- tovoltaic including mounting brackets and battery kits. In addition to the systems, sustainable energy supply, the main focus was on one thing above all: guiding road us- ers more quickly and precisely to available parking spaces, reducing traffic caused by people searching for parking spaces and managing traffic flows more efficiently. The sister company VOLTA GmbH from Pocking was responsible for on-site installa- tion and implementation. The project dem- onstrates that modern parking guidance sys- tems have long since become more than mere signposts – they are increasingly be- coming intelligent and sustainable building blocks of modern mobility concepts. ■ New parking guidance system in Emmendingen by MSR-Traffic 40 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 H b m G c i f f a r T - R S M ©
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS Systemic approach: The integration of energy storage systems, combined with intelligent load management, is designed to support operators in scaling and running their charging infrastructure cost-effec- tively. e s u o H y t i l i b o M e h T © FENECON / The Mobility House Solutions More Charging Points Despite Limited Grid Connection FENECON and The Mobility House Solutions combine energy storage and load management into a single integrated system. This enables operators to install more charging points on their existing grid connection and operate their charging infrastructure more cost-effectively. W ith the rise of electric mobility, many charging sites are facing a new challenge: it is no longer just a matter of setting up individual charging points, but of operating entire areas cost-ef- fectively and scaling them up. Whether at a company site, in a logistics depot or at a public fast-charging park, the grid connec- tion often becomes the limiting factor for further expansion. Interplay between battery storage and charging infrastructure According to FENECON and The Mobility House Solutions, two key factors are crucial for scaling up and operating charging sites cost-effectively despite limited grid connec- tion capacity: flexible energy use and target- ed control of the charging infrastructure. Us- ing stationary energy storage systems and the FEMS energy management system, FENECON optimises the use of on-site ener- gy sources, such as those from the grid con- nection and photovoltaic systems. Energy storage systems decouple energy procure- ment and consumption in terms of time, for example to make locally generated solar power available for charging operations at a later time. The solution from The Mobility House So- lutions handles load management in parallel. During operational charging, ChargePilot dy- namically distributes the available power across the connected charging points, taking into account the respective charging require- ments of the vehicles by prioritising certain charging points, explains the provider. Stable and scalable The systems follow a clear division of roles: whilst the energy management system de- fines the available power framework, load management intelligently implements this during charging operations. Particularly at larger charging sites, different systems and control solutions from various manufacturers often coexist. The coordinated integration of energy management, battery storage and charging infrastructure reduces this complex- ity and enables stable and scalable operation. “Many operators are now reaching the limits of their grid connection when expanding their charging sites,” says Heiko Bayer, Man- aging Director at The Mobility House Solu- tions. “With ChargePilot, we can control charging infrastructure in such a way as to avoid costly grid expansion and reduce oper- ating costs. When combined with energy storage systems, this control system realises its full potential. That is why we are delight- ed to be collaborating with FENECON.” Scaling charging infrastructure cost-effectively For charging station operators, the system is primarily designed to improve the cost-ef- fectiveness of their charging infrastructure. At the same time, it promises faster imple- mentation and better scalability of charging projects. Ultimately, the solution also helps to relieve the strain on the electricity grids by better balancing energy flows at the site and reducing peak loads. This is an important prerequisite for the further expansion of electric mobility. ■ Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 41
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS A O C P A © Entry and exit are handled via automatic number plate recognition. APCOA and MILES Pilot Project to Ease Parking Pressure in Berlin Car park operator APCOA and car-sharing provider MILES are launching a partnership for ticketless parking in selected city centre locations. Since 1 April, customers have been able to conveniently start and end their parking sessions with their MILES vehicle at three APCOA car parks in Berlin. T he partnership covers two Charlotten- burg locations as well as the Victoria Centre at Ostkreuz station. An expan- sion to further locations, including those out- side Berlin, is being considered. Entry and exit are handled via automatic number plate rec- ognition, a system that has already proven its worth at many APCOA sites. Transaction via the MILES Platform Physical parking tickets and manual pay- ment processes at pay-and-display ma- chines are no longer required, as the trans- action is processed in the background via the MILES platform. MILES users can start and end their hire directly in the car park. Vehicles can be parked in any free, standard parking space – there is no need to look for specific car-sharing markings for the time being. The solution reduces the time spent on parking and ensures a seamless, hassle-free parking and hire process. In busy city centre locations in particular, increasing parking pressure and a lack of public parking spaces are a constant problem. By diverting parked vehicles into multi-storey car parks, the bur- den on the roads is eased and the traditional ‘search-for-a-space’ traffic is reduced, which contributes to better traffic management and less congestion in inner-city neighbourhoods. Integrating Car-Sharing into Every- day Life “The partnership with MILES is another step towards improving the parking situation in 42 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS urban city centres. Together, we are ensuring less stress, greater convenience and time saved when parking, whilst also helping to relieve pressure on city centres,” said Ste- fanie Kochs, Head of Urban Hubs at APCOA Germany. “Our aim is to integrate car-sharing into everyday life as easily and flexibly as possi- ble. By linking up with APCOA’s car parks, we are taking the pressure of searching for a space off the streets and offering our us- ers a reliable parking alternative in high- traffic areas,” says Peter Kormany, Project for Business Development at Manager MILES. ■ The partnership between APCOA and MILES in Berlin also includes the car park at the Kant Center site. k c o t s r e t t u h S © ChargePoint World’s Fastest Standalone Charger ChargePoint, a provider of charging solutions for electric vehicles, has unveiled ‘Express Solo’: which it claims is the world’s fastest standalone charging station for electric vehicles. C apable of delivering a 600kW charging speed to a single EV, Ex- press Solo launches ChargePoint’s next generation DC fast charging architecture as an industry-leading innovation. It will be ChargePoint’s first DC charger to also be sold across Europe. Deliver- Payment option for car parks and various indoor environments. ing high-power, scalable EV charging in a single compact cabinet, in- stallation is now possible in tight spaces, at lower construction costs, all while increasing charging speed, say ChargePoint. Express Solo delivers approximately 40 per cent higher power density than other DC charging solutions in the industry’s smallest footprint, making Express Solo ideal for the deployment of EV charging at sites that re- quire fast charging in a limited space. Express Solo can simultaneously charge two EVs, and it affordably pairs with an additional dispenser to charge up to four vehicles. When charging multiple vehicles, an Express Solo can deliver any combination of power levels up to 600kW per port, an industry-first innovation. This makes more fast charging ports available to drivers while increasing station owner revenue. Scalable Solution “The Express DC fast charging architecture delivers differentiation. Not just by higher output, but by how economically, efficiently, and flexibly that power is delivered. Express Solo combines unmatched power density, direct DC power input capabilities for solar integra- tion and battery storage, and a modular architecture that scales with minimal cost and complexity. Collectively this redefines DC fast charging from a fixed asset into a future-ready energy platform,” said Rick Wilmer, CEO at ChargePoint. “For those with plans for expan- sion, Express Solo enables scalable configurations for any charging scenario, futureproofing a station owner’s investment by giving driv- ers an ideal fast charging experience today while offering flexibility for the EVs of tomorrow.” ■ Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 43 i t n o P e g r a h C ©
BACK GROUND k c o t s r e t t u h S © Urbiotica Pay-per-Space System in Wrocław Efficient management of regulated parking remains one of the great challenges for many European cities seeking to balance mobil- ity, sustainability and citizen experience. In this context, the city of Wrocław has taken a decisive step by implementing the first pay-per-place system in Poland, marking a before and after in the way the use of public space is controlled and optimized. T his pioneering project not only re- sponds to an operational need, but also aligns with current trends in ur- ban digitalization, where data and automa- tion play a key role in decision making and improving public services. Technological Innovation in Parking Control The implementation of the system has been possible thanks to the collaboration with PM3D, the company in charge of deploying and integrating the solution within the city’s existing infrastructure. Their role has been instrumental in ensuring that the technology is properly adapted to both operational re- quirements and local regulations. Specifically, the deployment has been carried out in Mennicza Street, a central area with high parking demand. There, the smart camera technology developed by Urbiotica has been integrated with Flowbird’s parking meter network. This combination allows for automatic verification of whether a vehicle has paid correctly for the space it occupies, eliminating reliance on manual checks and significantly reducing human error. How the Pay-per-Space Model Works The pay-per-space system introduces an im- portant change in the way users interact with regulated parking. Instead of simply paying by time, the user must indicate the exact number of the space in which they have parked, either through the parking me- ter or through a mobile application. This approach provides multiple benefits, amongst others the reduction of fraud and improper use of public space. Thanks to this, greater efficiency in parking management is achieved, allowing authorities to act with more reliable information in real time. The adoption of this system represents a significant evolution in urban parking man- agement. Among its main advantages are the following: Increased productivity of con- trol personnel, improved collection without increasing the pressure on citizens, access to accurate data for strategic decision making. For members of the public, this means a clearer and more transparent experience, a reduction in unjustified penalties, and greater availability of parking spaces thanks to more efficient turnover. Moreover, as it is a solution based on artificial vision, it is not necessary to install physical sensors in each square, which reduces costs and facilitates its implementa- tion in complex urban environments. A Replicable Model The case of Wrocław demonstrates how col- laboration between cities and technology providers can lead to innovative smart park- ing solutions capable of transforming urban mobility. The pay-per-slace model is posi- tioned as a solid alternative to traditional systems, especially in environments where accuracy, efficiency and digitization are criti- cal factors. In addition, this type of solutions allows moving towards a data-driven man- agement, where every decision is supported by real information on the use of urban space, facilitating a more strategic and effi- cient planning. ■ 44 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS Motorworld Mallorca Exclusive Automotive Experience with Innovative Wohr Parking Systems Motorworld Mallorca offers a visionary centre for the island’s automotive culture, lifestyle and premium services. But also an automatic parking system from Wohr offers maximum space efficiency, barrier-free access and the integration of e-mobility. A imed at car enthusiasts, brand lovers and investors, the ven- ue not only offers exclusive showrooms showcasing classic and modern vehicles, restaurants and event spaces. It also features a smart parking system with car-lifts serving several floors. The project consists of Wohr’s innovative Combiparker 560 parking systems, with three systems combining to deliver a total of 50 park- ing spaces on three levels and enabling the venue to meet the re- quirements of modern mobility. Efficiency Meets Design The Wohr Combiparker system sets new standards in both function- ality and aesthetics. The system not only provides the maximum use of space for as many cars as possible on a small footprint but also offers a flat platform design for comfortable entry and exit – as well as convenient access even for vehicles with low ground clearance. The uniform surface also ensures a high-quality appearance, while the intuitive RFID control guarantees easy operation. The systems also feature integrated e-charging points and are there- fore ideally equipped for the mobility of today and tomorrow. With these features, Motorworld Mallorca is not only a place for automo- tive passion, but also a prime example of intelligent infrastructure and future-oriented solutions. ■ Technical specification • 3 x WÖHR Combiparker 560 systems • 50 parking spaces • Platform load capacity up to max. 2.8 t • Platform width: 260 cm, Platform length: 535 cm • Operation via RFID chip • Equipped with electric charging stations on the platform r h o W ) 4 ( © Lifestyle, mobility and smart parking solutions combined in a unique setting in the Balearic Islands. Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 45
INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS Scheidt & Bachmann Parking Solutions Modern Parking Facilities Enhance the Historical Experience in Swiss Open-Air Museum At the start of April, the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum in the Bernese Ober- land in Switzerland came out of its winter break and opened for the 2026 season. The aim is for visitors to start their day in a relaxed manner, regardless of whether they travel by public transport or by car. A new digital solution has recently been introduced for parking. C ar users have access to ample park- ing spaces at the Ballenberg West and East entrances. To reduce stress on arrival and departure, a new parking sys- tem ensures a smooth process. Upon entry, a parking ticket is issued whilst a camera re- cords the number plate. The ticket and num- ber plate are automatically linked. The parking fee can be paid in cash or by card at the pay-on-arrival machine. Once the ticket has been validated, the system recognises the number plate associated with the ticket upon exit and opens the bar- rier automatically. For those who ‘forget’, a PayOnExit solution has been installed: this allows visitors to pay by card directly at the exit. ‘Brächete’ at the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum: this traditional autumn festival – the photograph was taken in October 2025 – centres on the processing of flax into linen. Fully Automatic with PayByPhone Alternatively, parkers can also use their smartphone, provided PayByPhone is in- stalled on it. With the AutoPay function acti- vated in the app and the number plate regis- tered, the barrier opens automatically upon entry and exit without the need for a ticket. This was made possible by integration into the mobility CONNECT platform from Scheidt & Bachmann Parking Solutions, the supplier of the parking system in Ballenberg. PayBy- Phone implemented the digital solution in collaboration with its partner SCHENK Sys- teme, which has been a wholly-owned sub- sidiary of Scheidt & Bachmann in Switzerland since last year. The app provider hopes that this project will mark an important step for PayByPhone in the field of off-street parking in Switzerland and serve as a springboard for further digital solutions in the Alpine country. At the West car park, parking fees are still collected in the traditional way via a simple parking meter, but without any barrier sys- tem. ■ i r r i B d i v a D © Public transport has also been taken into account: buses pass through the barriers using a special remote-control system. Dual-branded payment terminal Entry and exit against a picturesque mountain backdrop © 46 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 n n a m h c a B & t d e h c S ) 3 ( i
INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS THE information sources for parking professionals THE trade journal for the German speaking region THE parking magazine with an European view Parkingtrend · specialist magazine for parking · independent, objectively and technically sound · average of 6.25 readers per copy, 23,000 in total* · offi cial organ of the European Parking Association (EPA) · international trade journal · editorial team of EPA members and technical editors *Results of a reader survey parken-aktuell.de Parkraum-Management Konzeption Technik the online presence of the magazine weekly news updates monthly editorial newsletter free e-paper archive Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 M e e t u s a t PA R K E N 2 0 2 6! www.maenken.com 47
INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS Helsinki Airport Ticketless Parking Expanded This spring, Finavia introduced ticketless parking at the Helsinki Airport. Since then, ticketless parking has been available not only in car park P4, but also in car parks P3 and P5. T icketless parking is part of Finavia’s continuous development of ground access at Helsinki Airport. Finavia ac- tively collects customer feedback and devel- ops its services to improve the smoothness of travel. In ticketless parking, the custom- er’s vehicle is automatically identified at the entrance based on the licence plate, and no physical parking ticket is needed. The change makes parking smoother and reduc- es concerns about keeping track of a parking ticket at the end of a trip. The expansion began in April and was fully completed in May 2026. The P1 Premi- um and P2 car parks already have a ticket- less parking system. Even smoother parking Drivers can enter Finavia’s car parks and out- door areas directly at any time of the day. The barrier opens automatically at the entrance once the vehicle is recognized by camera- based licence plate recognition. Upon return- ing from the trip, parking can be paid for at a payment machine or at the exit by entering the vehicle’s license plate number. After payment, the barrier will open automatically at the exit. Cash payments for parking are still possible at Finavia’s information desk, which is located on the first floor of the airport terminal. To ensure ticketless parking operates smoothly, number plates should be clean and easily readable, for example free of snow and dirt. Finavia recommends booking parking in advance as the primary option, as this allows customers to secure a parking space that suits their needs, the best price, and a smooth parking experience. In addition to parking tickets, paper pay- ment receipts will also become a thing of the past. With the digitization, payment ma- chines in the P3, P4 and P5 parking areas will no longer print paper receipts. Instead, cus- tomers can download the receipt to their own device via a QR code at the time of pay- ment. Receipts can also be retrieved online for up to seven days after the end of parking by entering the licence plate number, park- ■ ing area and payment date. Helsinki Airport terminal building 48 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 a i v a n F © i
INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS a i l a t I B U H ) 2 ( © HUB Italia Advanced Parking Solution for the City of Cagliari Parkar, the company responsible for parking management and jointly owned by CTM SpA and the Municipality of Cagliari, together with HUB Italia, developed a project for the modernization and centralization of four parking facilities in the city centre: Man- zoni, Cesare Battisti, Nazzari, and Piazza Nuova. C agliari, the main urban centre of Sar- dinia, is a port city that blends a strong historical identity with an in- creasingly international outlook. Its strategic location makes it a reference hub for tourism and commercial flows. In recent years, the city has experienced a growing demand for efficient and accessible services. In this dy- namic context, mobility and parking man- agement represent a fundamental lever to improve urban quality life and ensure a posi- tive experience for both residents and visi- tors. Before the intervention, the systems were outdated and no longer suited to meet the increasing turnover of users and their di- verse needs. The goal was to create an inte- grated and reliable system capable of effec- tively monitoring and managing access, while also improving service levels and the perception of safety. Scalable Parking System HUB Italia implemented a modern and scal- able parking system based on the JMS (Janus Management System) software, ena- bling the Municipality of Cagliari to monitor and manage all four parking facilities from a single interface. Through JMS, the operator can view the status of the facilities in real time, control access, analyse usage data, and respond promptly when needed. In par- ticular, the advanced reporting and monitor- ing features have proven essential for im- proving operational management and sup- porting strategic decisions, always informed by performance analysis. LPR for Subscribers All parking facilities have been equipped with entry terminals, issuing tickets for oc- casional users and License Plate Recognition (LPR) systems for subscribers, as well as Automatic Pay Stations (APS) offering multi- ple payment methods, including cash, credit cards, and mobile/app payments. Parkar has recognized HUB Italia as a trusted partner, with a strong presence in the region and the ability to provide timely maintenance and support services. The reli- ability of the technology and the perfor- mance of the JMS software have fully met the operator’s expectations and the desired standards of excellence, especially in terms of operational control and data analysis. HUB Italia has announced: “We are proud to have contributed to the modernization of the city’s infrastructure, offering residents and visitors a smoother, more efficient mo- bility experience aligned with the identity and ongoing evolution of Cagliari.” ■ Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 49
r e n h t r ü F n a i t s i r h C / a n n e V f o y t i C © i INTERNATIONAL SOLUTIONS (from right to left) Martin Schanda, Managing Director of CPB Austria, Michelle Krumpschmid, Head of Parking Enforcement, and Ulli Sima, City Councillor for Mobility Scan Cars Test Runs for High-Tech Parking Enforcement in Vienna A first for Vienna’s parking enforcement service: at the start of the year, the first test runs were carried out with the new Scan Cars, and the software was programmed specifically for Vienna. The Scan Cars are vehicles fitted with special sensors for number plate recognition, enabling the digital monitoring of parking fees due. T he process is similar to the mobile phone scanning system used by parking enforcement officers for years, only faster and more efficient. Parking enforcement staff cover up to 15 km a day across the city’s districts, and the new vehi- cles are helping to ease the burden of their important monitoring work. A Digital First Ulli Sima, City Councillor for Mobility, went to see the new vehicles for herself at the launch and discussed the innovations with her colleagues from the parking enforce- ment team: “Vienna is pioneering a digital first across the whole of Austria. The de- ployment of the Scan Cars is a further step towards modern parking management in our city. Following the introduction of the city-wide parking sticker scheme in 2022, the areas requiring monitoring within the city have almost doubled. By deploying Scan Cars, we have developed a smart and efficient solution and are saving staff around 15 kilometres of walking per day in the larger districts.” Data Protection Compliant Checks The new scan cars are being deployed in the more spread-out areas across twelve dis- tricts. The sensor is mounted on the roof of the car and scans number plates using opti- cal character recognition (OCR), cross- checks them against the relevant database and flags up potential offences. The informa- tion is not stored, thereby ensuring full com- pliance with data protection regulations. Every reported suspected case is manually checked by a parking enforcement officer. “The Scan Cars are a valuable aid for our staff. Alongside the first test phase this year, we are also launching training for our 650 staff members, which will take place over the course of the year, so that we are fully pre- pared when full-scale operations begin at the end of 2026. We know from international experience in cities such as Amsterdam, Prague and Paris that the use of such sys- tems enables modern, resource-efficient and fair monitoring. I am delighted that Vi- enna is the first city in Austria to adopt this high-tech system,” said Michelle Krump- schmid, Head of Parking Enforcement. Austrian Software Company Awarded Contract The decision to introduce digital parking management was taken by the Vienna State Parliament in March 2025. The two-stage tender process for the further expansion of digital parking enforcement was concluded at the end of November 2025. CPB Software GmbH, based in Vienna and specialising in such requirements, impressed the expert ju- ry and was awarded the contract for the Scan-Cars’ camera system. “We are an international company oper- ating in 23 countries. We are proud to be part of the City of Vienna’s digitalisation strategy and look forward to this cutting-edge, high- tech project in Austria,” said Martin Schanda, Managing Director of CPB Austria. ■ 50 Parking trend international | no. 2-2026
Calendar: International Parking Events 2026 1 September 2026 Intercharge Network Conference 2026 Berlin, Germany https://intercharge-network- conference.com 29 October 2026 Nationaal Parkeercongres Utrecht, The Netherlands 2027 29 March–1 April 2027 Parking Industry Expo (PIE 2027) Dallas, Texas, USA https://vexpan.nl/evenementen/ nationaal-parkeercongres/ www.parkingtoday.com/pie27/ 18 September 2026 British Parking Awards 2026 London, United Kingdom 27–30 September 2026 Canadian Parking Association 18–20 May 2027 Infrastructure and Parking Annual Conference & Trade Show Montreal, Quebec Canada Technology Trade Fair Warsaw, Poland https://www.britishparkingawards.uk www.parkingtechexpo.com/en/ 24–25 September 2026 EPA Annual General Assembly 2026 & EU Policy Forum on Mobility & Parking Dublin, Ireland https://europeanparking.eu 8 October 2026 Sthlm E-Mobility Summit Stockholm, Sweden https://ipmi.parking-mobility. org/2025/savethedate.cfm www.canadianparking.ca/ montreal2026/ 3–5 November 2026 Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress Fira Barcelona – Gran Via Barcelona, Spain www.tomorrowmobility.com 24 November 2026 Competence Forum “Parken” 2026 Würzburg, Germany www.parken.de 16–17 June 2027 Parken Trade Fair RheinMain CongressCenter Wiesbaden, Germany www.parken-messe.de 28–30 September 2027 22nd European Parking Conference & Exhibition The EGG, Brussels, Belgium https://europeanparking.eu PRO SPECTS Imprint Parking trend international is published by Maenken Kommunikation GmbH, Cologne/Germany, in cooperation with European Parking Association aisbl Rue d’Arlon 25, 1050 Brussels www.europeanparking.eu Publishing House (responsible for editorial, adver- tising, production and circulation) Maenken Kommunikation GmbH Von-der-Wettern-Straße 25 51149 Cologne/Germany www.maenken.com Phone +49(0) 22 03/35 84-0 Fax +49(0) 22 03/35 84-185 Frequency: 4 x per year Circulation: 4,100 copies Unit price: see cover, plus forwarding expenses Publisher Dr. Wieland Mänken Editorial Team Marko Ruh (Chief Editor) pti@maenken.com Tom Antonissen (EPA Executive Director) Joanne Sutcliffe (Communications Manager) Vasiliki Orfanaki (Operations Manager) Pauline Caublot (Digitalisation & Data Manager) epa@europeanparking.eu Advertising Team Susanne Kessler Phone +49(0) 22 03/35 84-116 susanne.kessler@maenken.com Arne Freitag Phone +49(0) 22 03/35 84-115 arne.freitag@maenken.com Philipp Wolfart Phone +49(0) 22 03/35 84-119 philipp.wolfart@maenken.com Print Shop Silber Druck oHG, Lohfelden (Germany) Parking trend international | no. 2-2026 51