Hyundai and Kia are partnering with Vattenfall to launch a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot project in the Netherlands, as automakers and energy companies continue exploring how electric vehicles can support electricity networks through bidirectional charging.
The six-month field trial, scheduled to begin in the second half of 2026, will involve up to 80 households using either a Kia EV9 or Hyundai Ioniq 9 equipped with bidirectional charging technology.
The project aims to evaluate how electric vehicle batteries can act as flexible energy storage assets, helping balance electricity supply and demand by returning power to the grid during peak consumption periods.
Under the program, selected participants will receive a bidirectional charging station and installation services for the duration of the trial.
Vattenfall said it will also reimburse electricity charged at home, up to a maximum of €500 per household.
Vehicle-to-grid technology allows electric vehicles not only to consume electricity but also to supply it back to the power network when required.
According to Vattenfall, the pilot will investigate how automated charging and discharging can improve energy system efficiency and support grid stability during periods of high demand.
The utility will manage charging and discharging operations through software controls, while Hyundai and Kia will provide the charging technology and mobile application used by participants.
Under the planned setup, vehicles may automatically export electricity back to the grid between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., a period typically associated with higher electricity consumption.
Participants will retain control over key vehicle settings, including minimum battery charge levels and planned departure times, ensuring daily mobility needs are maintained.
Jeroen van Loon, Director of Customer Solution Development at Vattenfall Netherlands, said electric vehicles offer significantly larger storage capacity than most residential battery systems.
“Electric cars are stationary for most of the day,” said Jeroen van Loon, Director of Customer Solution Development at Vattenfall Netherlands.
“At the same time, they have a large battery: whereas a home battery is usually around 10 kilowatt-hours, an electric car can easily have 50 to 60 kilowatt-hours of storage. In this pilot, we are exploring how we can unlock the flexibility of this new generation of cars and gain experience with an energy system that can better adapt to supply and demand,” van Loon added.
The project reflects growing interest in bidirectional charging technologies across Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, where several initiatives are already underway.
One of the most prominent projects is Utrecht Energized, which currently operates around 50 bidirectional electric vehicles and plans to expand to 500 vehicles. Similar programs are also being developed in Eindhoven, where vehicle-to-grid technology is being explored as a tool for local grid stabilization.
The pilot forms part of a broader strategy by the Hyundai Motor Group to accelerate deployment of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies.
In late 2025, the group announced plans to expand V2X services across South Korea, Europe and the United States, identifying the Netherlands as one of its priority markets.
Vattenfall is also involved in additional vehicle-to-grid initiatives elsewhere in Europe. In Sweden, the company is participating in a separate project with Volkswagen and charging technology provider Ambibox involving 200 electric vehicles and 200 bidirectional chargers.
As electricity systems incorporate increasing amounts of renewable energy, utilities and automakers are exploring how electric vehicle batteries can provide additional flexibility and support grid reliability.
The Dutch pilot will provide further insights into the practical operation of vehicle-to-grid technology and its potential role in future energy systems, where electric vehicles could function not only as transportation assets but also as distributed energy resources.
