Dutch car-sharing platform MyWheels is introducing the first of 500 grid-compatible Renault electric vehicles (EVs) to its fleet this week, marking Europe’s largest vehicle-to-grid (V2G) car-sharing rollout to date. The move comes as V2G technology gains momentum amid rising concerns over energy grid stability in the region.
Vehicle-to-grid technology enables electric cars to not only draw electricity from the grid but also return power during periods of peak demand. While the concept has been in development for years, it is now becoming commercially feasible thanks to advances in smart charging and robust battery systems.
The vehicles will be deployed in the Dutch city of Utrecht and will be connected to bidirectional charging stations provided by We Drive Solar, which has partnered with MyWheels for the rollout. “It feels like we’re at a tipping point,” said Kees Koolen, investor in We Drive Solar, who estimates the Utrecht project has cost around 100 million euros ($114 million) to develop.
The Netherlands is among the frontrunners in adopting V2G solutions, driven by national goals to electrify both its transport and heating systems while shifting toward renewable energy. MyWheels’ fleet will include models like Renault’s new electric R5, all capable of discharging energy back into the grid when idle. Participating vehicles will be plugged into We Drive Solar’s infrastructure and compensated for energy sold to the grid.
Grid instability has become a growing concern across Europe due to the increasing share of intermittent renewable power. Events such as the blackout in Spain and Portugal earlier this year and disruptions during the Cannes Film Festival in France have further highlighted the need for solutions like V2G.
“Our research shows that vehicle-to-grid technology could allow the growing electric vehicle fleet to become a significant asset to the grid, with vast storage potential locked up in electric vehicles,” said Madeleine Brolly, advanced transport analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. She noted that standardisation across automakers remains a major hurdle for broader deployment.