V2G car sharing project to launch with Renault in Utrecht

Under the newly formed Renault will deliver 500 R5 E-Tech Electric to Utrecht, equipped with Mobilize’s V2G technology. We Drive Solar will provide and operate bi-directional charging stations and car sharing platform MyWheels will operate the fleet.

“This initiative aims to facilitate the large-scale availability of electric shared mobility while offering an innovative way to balance the city’s electric grid through bi-directional charging technology,” Renault wrote in an accompanying press release . The Netherlands is a world leader in the introduction of solar and wind energy, which poses a challenge for the electricity grid. The French company describes Utrecht as one of the most advanced European cities in the use of renewable energies, “with already 35% of all rooftops covered with solar panels.”

The project is a first for Renault in that its own bidirectional V2G charging technology is being used for the first time to utilise public infrastructure. “500 bidirectional cars could provide 10% of the needed flexibility in Utrecht Region to balance solar- and wind energy for usage during peak-hours,” the partners estimate, who see their cooperation as “a testament to the power of public-private partnerships”.

Experiments with V2G have been underway in Utrecht since 2019, with Hyundai joining pioneer Renault as a partner in the Utrecht car sharing experiment two and a half years ago. The initial 25 Hyundai Ioniq 5s for the project had to be supplemented with the V2G function in advance – as did Renault’s Zoe models. The announced Sion from Sono Motors, on the other hand, were never used in Utrecht.

The project is now to be taken to the next level with the 500 Renault 5s. Whether and to what extent Hyundai is still on board is not mentioned in the Renault press release. Instead, the manufacturer points out that the Renault 4 E-Tech electric, the Megane E-Tech electric and the Scenic E-Tech electric could also be used in a similar way in the future. “Their compact design and advanced technology make them ideal for urban car-sharing programs in cities transitioning to more sustainable mobility solutions. The use of Mobilize’s V2G technology would represent a significant step forward, allowing We Drive Solar’s public infrastructure and services to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy system on a large scale,” the company wrote.

Eva Oosters, alderwoman of the city of Utrecht, meanwhile took to Linkedin to clarify that V2G car sharing is intended to relieve the electricity grid “in the neighbourhood,” specifically “when demand is highest, for example, in the evening when people are cooking or heating.” The project shows how smart technology and shared mobility can work together to accelerate the energy transition. “It’s not just about balancing the power grid, but also about creating space to live in the city,” says Oosters. “Fewer cars means more space for playgrounds, parks and other nice things. This is a nice, important step forward and hopefully the start of many more such innovative collaborations in Europe.”

renaultgroup.com, linkedin.com (in Dutch)