Utrecht has become Europe’s first city with a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) car-sharing service through a collaboration between the Dutch city and Renault, We Drive Solar and MyWheels.

The initiative supports a more sustainable, efficient energy system in a city where 35% of rooftops are already fitted with solar panels. Thanks to the V2G technology, electric vehicles can store energy and feed it back to the local grid during peak periods, so renewable power remains available around the clock.

By combining a shared‑mobility service with technology, the project keeps the local grid in balance while accelerating the transition to sustainable urban transport.

The launch of this large-scale car‑sharing service, using V2G technology was announced in November 2024 and is now live. Representing a step towards cleaner mobility, this initiative promotes large‑scale availability of electric shared cars while helping balance the city’s electricity network through bidirectional charging technology.

The Netherlands is a leader in solar and wind-based energy deployment, and Utrecht ranks among Europe’s most progressive renewable‑energy cities, with 35% of roofs equipped with solar panels. The use of renewables presents challenges for the grid due to their massive deployment, causing high peaks in energy supply. To manage the grid with a high proportion of renewables requires a system that quickly adapts to the changes in energy generation and consumption. This is where the V2G technology steps in.

The roll‑out is now live with 50 Renault 5 E‑Tech electric cars. Available via a car‑sharing service managed by MyWheels, the vehicles use V2G bidirectional charging technology developed by Mobilize, Renault’s brand dedicated to new mobilities. It is the first time this technology has been made available for public infrastructure, provided by We Drive Solar. The planned 500 bidirectional cars can deliver 10% of the flexibility required in the Utrecht region to balance solar- and wind-generated electricity at peak times.

The fleet will later expand with other E-Tech electric models. Their compact design and technology make them suitable for city car‑sharing schemes moving towards cleaner travel. Mobilize’s V2G offering enables the public infrastructure and We Drive Solar’s services to contribute on a large scale to a more resilient, sustainable energy system.

Renault’s shared cars, equipped with Mobilize’s V2G technology, let users charge with clean electricity and feed power back to the grid when demand is high. We Drive Solar provides bidirectional public AC chargers and aggregation technology that support Mobilize’s V2G toolkit. The 500 Renault E‑Tech electric models are operated by MyWheels, the Netherlands’ biggest car‑sharing company. By combining mobility and energy options, MyWheels is said to set a benchmark for car-sharing.

This collaboration is said to show how public–private initiatives can deliver sustainable, efficient mobility.

Called Utrecht Energized (www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZEzuKGKdm8), Europe’s first large-scale V2G car-sharing service, is a testament to the power of collaboration. This initiative demonstrates that a thriving V2G ecosystem can only be achieved through the seamless collaboration of multiple players, from vehicle manufacturers and charging infrastructure providers to energy companies and local authorities. By joining forces with We Drive Solar (wedrivesolar.com), MyWheels (mywheels.nl) and the municipality of Utrecht (www.utrecht.nl), Renault says it is turning V2G from a promising concept into a tangible reality.

To continue to deploy V2G services, a supportive regulatory framework that addresses barriers such as unfavourable tax policies, grid fee structures and complex certification processes could be essential to unlock the potential of V2G and enable its widespread adoption.

Renault is urging policymakers and industry stakeholders to accelerate V2G’s deployment across Europe. V2G allows electric vehicles (EVs) to draw energy from the grid and discharge electricity back during peak times, turning them into mobile energy resources.

Implementing V2G at scale requires a harmonised approach across the entire energy ecosystem, bringing together vehicles, charging infrastructure, energy providers, and grid operators. Renault is already demonstrating this in France, where customers are using V2G with models such as the R5, Alpine A290, R4, New Megane and New Scenic.

While the technology is market-ready and offers benefits – including grid flexibility, reduced energy costs for EV owners and a lower total cost of ownership – unlocking this potential requires overcoming current regulatory and technical barriers.

Renault (www.renaultgroup.com) is calling for clear and consistent regulations across Europe, encompassing fiscal incentives, grid fee revisions, streamlined certification processes and support for smart meter deployment. These measures are crucial to unlocking the potential of V2G and making it a cornerstone of a faster and more sustainable energy transition. Ultimately, this will contribute to turning every EV into a grid asset and powering a faster, smarter shift to a sustainable energy ecosystem.

“To unlock the full potential of V2G, we need to break down existing barriers from adapting fiscal rules and grid fees to promoting interoperability and simplifying certification processes,” said Mobilize (www.mobilize.com) director Jérôme Faton. “With the right alignment, V2G can become a cornerstone of tomorrow’s grid.”