Urbiotica: Rome Rolls Out Smart Control of EV Charging Spaces at Scale

As electric mobility grows, cities are facing a new and increasingly visible challenge: installing charging infrastructure is not enough. Ensuring that it is actually available when needed is just as critical.

In urban environments, especially with fast-charging curbside spaces, misuse is more common than expected. Vehicles occupying spots without charging, or overstaying beyond the allowed time, reduce turnover and limit the efficiency of the infrastructure.

To tackle this issue, the city of Rome with one of the largest EV charging point operators in Italy, is deploying a control system across nearly 430 charging spaces, with around 380 already operational. The goal is clear: move from infrastructure deployment to real usage control.

Not just occupancy, but proper usage

The solution makes it possible to detect vehicles occupying EV charging spaces without starting a charging session. In other words, it goes beyond simple occupancy detection to understand whether the space is being used correctly.

When misuse is detected, alerts are generated and sent to the municipal police for verification and enforcement. This approach brings real-time data into daily operations, improving the efficiency of on-the-ground control.

Data integration for smarter management

The key lies in combining occupancy data with information from the Charge Point Management System (CPMS). This integration allows cities and operators to validate in real time whether a vehicle is connected, actively charging, and how long it has been using the space.

With this data, it becomes possible to identify:

• Vehicles parked without charging
• Charging sessions that have ended but the vehicle remains
• Overstays beyond allowed time limits

This model enables a shift from manual supervision to data-driven, automated curbside management and enforcement.

From theoretical to real availability

One of the less visible challenges in EV charging management is the gap between theoretical and real availability.

In many existing systems, a space appears as “available” if no charging session is active. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s free, there may still be a vehicle parked without charging. The result is a frustrating experience for users who arrive expecting an available charger, only to find it occupied.

By combining occupancy data with charging status, cities can provide accurate, real-time information on actual availability, significantly improving the user experience.

What the data shows: the issue is real

Experience across similar deployments shows that misuse is not an isolated issue. In recent analyses conducted by Urbiotica, data revealed that approximately 1 in 4 vehicles parked in EV charging spaces was not charging. Nearly half of these cases lasted more than 30 minutes.

This type of insight allows cities and operators to move from assumptions to evidence, helping them identify critical locations, optimize enforcement resources, and improve infrastructure planning.

More turnover, better availability, improved service

The impact of this type of solution is immediate. By ensuring proper use of charging spaces:

• Vehicle turnover increases
• Real availability improves
• Enforcement operations become more efficient
• Regulatory compliance is strengthened

At the same time, digitalization opens the door to more advanced models, such as automated overstay fees or fully integrated enforcement workflows—an emerging trend in the EV charging ecosystem.

A necessary step in urban e-mobility

Rome’s project reflects a broader shift: EV charging infrastructure needs to be paired with intelligent management systems to ensure it delivers real value.

Because in today’s urban mobility landscape, it’s not just about installing more chargers, it’s about making sure they work as intended.

If you’d like to learn more about our EV charging space control solutions, contact us at info(at)urbiotica.com or request a demo.

About Urbiotica

Urbiotica is a technology company specialized in smart parking and mobility solutions for cities and complex urban environments. With a strong focus on IoT, artificial intelligence, and data analytics, Urbiotica helps public authorities and parking operators improve traffic flow, optimize parking operations, and enhance the overall user experience. Its solutions are deployed in cities and facilities worldwide, supporting data-driven decision-making for more efficient, sustainable, and accessible urban mobility.

Learn more about Urbiotica and its smart parking solutions at www.urbiotica.com