Transport Consultant - Electric Mobility at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Duties and Responsibilities
Organizational Setting

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action.
• The overall objective of the Industry and Economy Division of UNEP is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies, practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.
• The Sustainable Mobility Unit (SMU) is part of the Industry and Economy Division and the unit promotes sustainable, low and no emissions transport. UNEP is implementing the Global Electric Mobility Programme, supporting over 50 low and middle-income countries to shift to electric mobility for improved air quality and climate change mitigation. We do so via various programmes and projects like the Used Vehicles Project, the Global Fuel Economy Initiative, the Electric Mobility Programme, Non-motorized Transportation Programme, and the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles project etc.
• The SMU requires support from a Transport Consultant for a period of 6 months to provide support to the Global Electric Mobility Programme. The Electric Mobility Programme supports member states, especially low and middle-income countries (LIMCs), with the introduction of electric mobility (E-mobility), with a focus on programs promoting electric motorcycles, electric light duty vehicles and electric buses. The consultant will develop a technical report on affordable e-mobility options for LMICs including the topics of used EV imports and Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) to EV retrofitting.

Under the supervision of the E-mobility Team leader, the consultant will conduct the following specific tasks:
Regarding Used EVs

• Prepare a technical overview of the global supply chain and regulatory framework for used EV trades including 2/3/4 wheeler
• Collect and analyze data on todays’ used EV flows to LMICs (based on current used ICE vehicle flows)
• Develop technical scenarios for future used EV flows to LMICs
• Identify minimum safety, usability, and environmental requirements of used EVs for both exporting and importing countries addressing issues of battery degradation, vehicle range but also safety and road worthiness.
• Analyze technical policy approaches to support a successful used EV market including i) regulations & standards for both the entire vehicle and the batteries, ii) regulation of charging infrastructure & compatibility, iii) purchase incentives and iv) consumer awareness, among others
• Develop recommendations on how used EVs can support the transition to electric mobility in LMICs, through lessons learned from case studies

Regarding Retrofit

• Conduct a technical assessment of ICE to EV retrofitting potential for different vehicle segments (2-wheelers, 3-wheelers, light-duty vehicles, minibuses, buses, light commercial vehicles) including technical, operational, and economic aspects
• Analyse case studies on ICE to EV retrofit in different markets and identify viable business models considering technical, operational, economic & regulatory framework conditions for ICE to EV retrofitting
• Analyse and propose technical policy approaches to support a successful ICE to EV retrofitting market including i) safety regulations for ICE and EV retrofits, ii) product responsibility a warranty, iii) regulation of charging infrastructure & compatibility, among others
• Develop recommendations on how ICE to EV retrofit can support the transition to electric mobility in LMICs, through lessons learned from case studies

Overall – Technical Report

• Write an introduction on the relevance of making e-mobility affordable for LMICs
• Combine the results of the tasks regarding used EVs and Retrofit in one technical report
• Write an executive summary with the key findings of the report and future action points

Qualifications/special skills
Education:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in environmental sciences, engineering, transport or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years’ work experience in transport or industry projects in the African, Asian or Latin American context is required
• Knowledge on electric mobility issues including the regulatory requirements and policy implications of electric vehicles is required
• Experience in data collection and research is required
• Experience in report development including visualization tools and MS excel is required
• Proven analytical, presentation and communication skills are desirable
• Data analysis and modelling skills and experience are required

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required, basic knowledge of French and/or Spanish is desirable.

Deadline:  07 June 2023