The charging infrastructure, supplied by Dutch provider We Drive Solar, is the result of several years of work to build a dense network of V2G‑capable AC charging points across Utrecht. The stations integrate with the city’s existing grids and connect to local photovoltaic systems. Excess solar energy can flow directly into vehicle batteries, while stored energy is released back into the grid during peak demand periods.
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The V2G car-sharing system has been officially operational since June 2025. The project was first announced in November 2024, with plans to expand the fleet to as many as 500 vehicles. According to We Drive Solar, these cars could ultimately provide up to ten percent of the flexibility needed to balance supply and demand in Utrecht’s regional grid.
The project offers several key benefits:
· Stabilisation of the local power grid, as vehicles can supply or absorb electricity at short notice
· More efficient use of renewable energy, with solar power stored locally and fed back into the grid as required
· Lower urban energy consumption, thanks to reduced peak loads and less reliance on costly reserve capacity
· Improved profitability for car sharing fleets, as revenue is generated not only from mobility but also from grid services
Utrecht is well suited to this model, with solar panels on 35 percent of rooftops and a car‑sharing system that uses locally generated electricity directly.
We drive solar - Utrecht goes ahead
The Utrecht project demonstrates how bidirectional charging can be implemented in other cities. The key is close cooperation between vehicle manufacturers, energy utilities, charging infrastructure operators and mobility providers, as local conditions can vary widely. As such, Utrecht Energized is serving as a blueprint for urban areas aiming to combine car sharing, photovoltaics and grid stabilisation into a cohesive system.
An appropriate regulatory framework is essential for the wider rollout of such models in the future. Issues such as feed‑in tariffs, grid charges and access to the electricity market will be decisive. To this end, Utrecht is calling for targeted political support to help establish bidirectional concepts at the national level.
Fewer cars, greater storage capacity
The central idea behind bidirectional charging is the dual use of car sharing vehicles: serving mobility needs while acting as flexible energy storage systems. Rather than countless privately owned cars sitting idle, a smaller shared fleet can meet a city’s mobility requirements and help stabilise the energy system.
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Over time, this approach could also reduce the need for large stationary battery storage installations. Studies by the Fraunhofer Institute and the Technical University of Munich indicate that widespread use of V2G-enabled vehicles could cut energy storage requirements by up to 90 percent. Utrecht is now providing practical evidence that this vision is within reach, and that mobility and energy will be ever more closely linked in the future. (hcn)
