Shropshire Star

Renault kicks off vehicle-to-grid charging pilot scheme

System could drive down the cost of charging terminals

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Renault's scheme has kicked off in the Netherlands

Renault has commenced a pilot scheme in vehicle-to-grid charging for electric cars.

The scheme aims to highlight the possibility of sending power from an electric vehicle back to the grid by placing energy storage units aboard the cars.

A fleet of Zoes, one of Renault’s current range of electric vehicles, have been converted to be able to reverse charge.

This would allow the cars to send power back to the grid during peak times when demand on infrastructure is higher.

The trial has begun today in Utrecht, though Renault says that other pilot schemes will be launched in France, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark.

Gilles Normand, Groupe Renault’s director of electric vehicles, said: “With this initiative, Groupe Renault is fully fulfilling its role as a leader in electric mobility for all and as a player in the energy transition.

“Vehicle-to-grid charging is a key pillar of the smart electric ecosystems that Groupe Renault has set up. We have chosen onboard technology that also optimizes the cost of recharging stations and thus facilitate a large-scale development.”

The technology allows electric vehicles to store energy at times of low demand, and then transfer it back to the grid when demand increases. Through this, cars could help reduce the overall strain put on the grid.

The trial has been launched in partnership with We Drive Solar – a Netherlands-based electric car charging company. It will also be developed on the Portugese Island of Porto Santo, where local energy supplier Empresa de Electricidade da Madeira is providing support.

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