Europe’s energy system is increasingly needing flexibility. While large-scale energy storage technologies have been the main focus, the importance of small-scale solutions, which are equally critical, is often overlooked. Demand-side flexibility (DSF) is one such solution that can help to integrate renewables, address the generation adequacy issue, balance demand and supply and to make efficient use of (often scarce) electricity infrastructure.
Bidirectional charging (also known as vehicle-to-everything or V2X and vehicle-to-grid or V2G) makes an important contribution to DSF by enabling electric vehicles (EVs) to become a Decentralised Energy Resource (DER), with energy storage functionalities on top of their primary transportation purpose. V2X is still in the early stages of development, however, all major EV Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) either have V2X models or have committed to launch dates. Access to relevant markets and multiple energy suppliers/service providers are fundamental for the business case and future development of these models and a comprehensive regulatory framework must be in place to ensure that monetisation of the technology is possible via multiple routes.
Unlocking flexibility from EVs is not only a resource efficiency issue, it is also key to a fair and just energy transition. Indeed, without bidirectional charging, the terawatt-hours of batteries coming to Europe each year inside electric vehicles could be stranded assets 90% of the time when the vehicles are parked idle.
The role of policy and regulation is therefore to create the right framework for bidirectional charging and V2G to
benefit all Europeans and to initiate the momentum required to scale these technologies. The objective of this study is to conduct an assessment of the current regulatory frameworks impacting bidirectional EV charging in different countries across Europe and explore what regulatory and political measures are needed for the technology to transition from pilot projects to widespread commercial adoption.
The framework for assessing the different countries is split into three areas: EV and charging development
considerations, regulatory, policy and market considerations, and grid and system considerations. The performance of each individual country against this framework is explored throughout this report.
