Europe’s EVs plug into the grid—but Germany hits the brakes as global v2g race accelerates
The gist
Europe’s electric vehicles are plugging into the grid at record pace—but while the UK, Netherlands, and New York charge ahead with smart, bidirectional tech, Germany’s regulatory red tape is slowing Europe’s clean energy ambitions.
What to know
- Ohme and Volkswagen expanded smart home charging to over 100,000 customers across six VW brands, shifting EV charging to cheaper off-peak hours by early 2026.
- The UK and Netherlands launched breakthrough V2G pilots using both buses and EV households, proving grid services can scale without disrupting drivers’ daily routines.
- Germany’s V2G rollout is stalled by policy delays, even as Scania’s megawatt-level truck charging and New York’s $6 million in V2G projects push global solutions forward.
VW & Ohme’s Smart Charging Surge
Ohme’s deep integration with Volkswagen’s API empowers over 100,000 EV drivers to automate home charging, slashing costs and maximizing off-peak energy use without lifting a finger.
By early 2026, Ohme and Volkswagen Group significantly broadened their collaboration across Europe, extending intelligent home charging solutions to drivers of electric vehicles from six VW Group brands. This expansion leverages Ohme’s integration with Volkswagen’s official API, allowing real-time monitoring of vehicle state of charge and automatic shifting of charging to off-peak tariff periods, effectively reducing costs without requiring manual intervention. Supporting over 100,000 VW Group customers, the partnership enhances the efficiency of home charging management through the Ohme app, capitalizing on dynamic European electricity tariffs to deliver a seamless and cost-effective charging experience.
Buses & Homes Go Bidirectional
UK electric buses and Dutch households are proving that large-scale V2G can stabilize the grid and reward users—without disrupting daily routines or mobility.
By early 2026, First Bus in the UK pioneered smart charging trials for electric buses in Glasgow and Great Yarmouth, leveraging Optimo Energy's platform to align charging schedules with real-time grid signals. This initiative not only enhances grid stability by utilizing surplus renewable energy but also reduces curtailment and system costs, positioning electric buses—with their predictable routes and substantial battery capacity—as promising assets in emerging energy flexibility markets.
In a complementary development, Vattenfall Netherlands launched a six-month vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot involving up to 80 households equipped with Kia EV9 and Hyundai IONIQ 9 models. This project showcases bidirectional charging technology that allows electric cars to feed stored electricity back into the grid during peak demand hours, supported by smart control systems and user-friendly apps from Kia and Hyundai, all while ensuring no disruption to daily vehicle use. Participants benefit from incentives including a bidirectional charging point and up to €500 reimbursement, underscoring a practical pathway for integrating passenger EVs into grid balancing strategies.
Germany’s Policy Gridlock
Despite industry readiness, Germany’s sluggish regulatory response has left it lagging Europe in V2G, with fragmented rules stalling the leap from pilots to a nationwide rollout.
Despite Germany's technological readiness and strong industry commitment to vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, regulatory inertia has significantly hampered widespread adoption. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs pledged in 2025 to make bidirectional charging market-ready but missed this target due to bureaucratic delays, illustrating how political processes have lagged behind technological progress. This regulatory sluggishness has positioned Germany as a critical bottleneck in Europe's broader V2G rollout, a concern underscored at the 2026 European Summit for Bidirectional Charging where industry leaders and government officials alike stressed that 'Europe must close ranks on bidirectional charging' while Germany 'dawdles' in regulatory progress.
While Germany has taken some positive regulatory steps—such as introducing initial tax regulations and eliminating grid fees for intermediate storage by late 2025—these measures remain insufficient to catalyze mass market deployment of bidirectional charging. The Bundestag’s decision to remove grid fees was hailed as a key milestone, yet industry stakeholders at the 2026 summit emphasized that the main obstacle is not a lack of industry willingness but the absence of a comprehensive, harmonized regulatory framework. This fragmented approach continues to slow the transition from pilot projects to scalable V2G services, underscoring the urgent need for political action to create enabling conditions.
New York’s $6M V2G Bet
A wave of public funding is uniting government, industry, and research to push V2G projects beyond pilots and embed bidirectional charging in the state’s energy future.
By mid-2026, New York State catalyzed vehicle-to-grid (V2G) innovation with a substantial $6 million investment across seven diverse projects, signaling a strategic push to enhance EV charging flexibility and bidirectional technologies. This funding spans a wide array of applications—from refuse trucks and wireless charging to managed charging and thermal energy storage—highlighting a comprehensive approach to integrating V2G solutions into varied sectors. Notable recipients such as Roundtrip EV Solutions, Gravity, and Electreon Wireless exemplify the blend of industry expertise driving this transformation.
Officials underscore that this public funding is more than a financial boost; it is a deliberate effort to foster collaboration among government bodies, industry leaders, and research institutions. This tripartite partnership aims to accelerate innovation while aligning with New York’s ambitious climate targets and the modernization of energy consumption patterns. By positioning the public sector as a pivotal catalyst, the initiative exemplifies how government involvement can orchestrate a cohesive ecosystem that propels V2G technologies from pilot projects to scalable solutions.
Scania’s Megawatt V2G Breakthrough
Scania’s 750 kW megawatt charging turns electric trucks into grid-balancing powerhouses, unlocking new revenue streams and redefining the role of heavy-duty EVs in the energy ecosystem.
By May 2026, Scania had pioneered one of the world’s first megawatt-level bidirectional V2G charging systems tailored for heavy-duty electric trucks, achieving power transfer rates up to 750 kW and 1,000 amperes through a single Megawatt Charging System (MCS) interface at its Södertälje depot. This breakthrough transforms electric trucks from mere consumers into active grid assets capable of supporting energy networks.
Beyond raw charging power, Scania’s innovation integrates megawatt charging with intelligent energy management, enabling fleet operators to provide critical grid services such as peak shaving and load balancing. As emphasized by Scania’s Tobias Ejderhamn and TRATON’s Yorben Muller, this fusion not only enhances renewable energy utilization but also unlocks new revenue streams for fleet operators, charge point operators, and energy providers, marking a pivotal evolution in heavy-duty V2G applications.
