Renault Will Test Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Technology

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By Aurélien Schuller, Manager in charge of the mobility division

The Renault Group is launching its first trials of bidirectional charging in Madeira and the Netherlands using a fleet of 15 Renault Zoés [1]. According to the company’s press release, this pilot program is expected to expand throughout 2019 “across seven countries and in collaboration with various partners, in order to prepare the Renault Group’s future offerings. The objective is twofold: to assess large-scale feasibility and to quantify potential benefits. ” While electric vehicles are often viewed with suspicion as a potential threat in terms of charging demand, this news reminds us that these vehicles can also serve the power grid by acting as sources of electricity injection. Even without considering bidirectional charging, managing electricity consumption can also provide system-level services—not only by avoiding contributing to peak demand but also by increasing electricity demand during off-peak hours. Readers interested in learning more should consult Carbone 4’s publications, which address this topic:

• Our article on electric vehicles in which we summarize the issues as presented by RTE;
• Our study on the environmental impact of different types of car engines today and by 2030. The study was conducted for the European Climate Foundation and the Fondation pour la Nature et l’Homme, with input from numerous stakeholders in the electric mobility ecosystem, including NGOs and both public and private sector actors. Regarding V2G, the study notably explored the potential for utilizing these charging sessions, including an assessment of emissions avoided across the broader vehicle-battery-electric grid system.

Sources: [1] Renault Group