As we celebrate the 5th anniversary of World EV Day, the team at smart charging consultancy Versinetic has been reflecting on just how far electric mobility has come since 2020.
What began as a day to promote the global move from petrol and diesel to electric vehicles has grown into a celebration of the ongoing innovation shaping the EV landscape.
This year, the Versinetic team is highlighting transformative projects in Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, an often overlooked but pivotal area of the EV sector. V2G has the potential to accelerate EV adoption by enabling vehicles not only to draw power but also to feed it back into the grid, effectively turning each EV into a mobile power source. Far from being a future concept, this technology is already being deployed in real-world projects around the globe.
Here are ten V2G projects that show how this technology is already reshaping our energy landscape, and poised to transform it even further:
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Utrecht Energised (Netherlands, 2018-ongoing)
Utrecht was the first city in Europe to implement a large-scale V2G car-sharing service. In partnership with Renault Group’s Mobilise V2G technology, We Drive Solar and My Wheels, this ‘energised’ initiative has set a standard for city-scale V2G ecosystems. With 500 bidirectional EVs, primarily Renault 5 E-Tech cars, the project integrated those vehicles with 20 charging plazas across the city, offering access to 80 individual chargers that were all designed to send power back to the grid in a city where 35% of rooftops have solar panels. By providing arbitrage services and grid balancing, Utrecht shows how urban mobility can double as a renewable energy source. Its scalability and focus on shared mobility make it a model for sustainable urban energy systems globally.
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VIGIL Project (UK, 2018-2020)
The VIGIL (VehIcle to Grid Intelligent control) project, led by Aston University and ByteSnap Design, created the UK’s first comprehensive, off-vehicle V2G communication and control platform. The project successfully demonstrated at two sites on Aston University campus the capability of VIGIL to regulate EV charging and discharging with building energy alongside electrical network constraints. VIGIL did this thanks to four 40kW charge posts, designed to work with ByteSnap’s OCPP 2.0-compliant MantaRay controller, which provided real-time grid balancing, managed demand response, and handled network constraints.
A winner of the ‘Innovation in V2G Award’ at the 2020 Electric Vehicle Innovation & Excellence Awards (EVIEs), VIGIL’s innovation has since influenced smart energy systems, including the use of MantaRay in custom-built EV charging solutions globally.
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Bus2Grid (London, UK, 2018-Ongoing)
London’s Bus2Grid project was a world-first, delivering the UK’s largest commercial-scale, multi-megawatt e-bus-to-grid demonstration. Using one of Europe’s biggest overnight electric bus charging depots – Northumberland Park in North London – 28 e-buses provided a combined export capacity of 1.2MW. By transforming bus garages into virtual power stations, the project leveraged the large battery capacity of buses to support peak shaving, grid flexibility, and renewable energy integration.
Developed in partnership with Go-Ahead, BYD UK, UK Power Networks, and others, the project’s success has led to its expansion across additional depots, including Coventry, which is investing £150 million to become the UK’s first all-electric bus city. Bus2Grid not only offers a model for sustainable urban energy systems but also demonstrates how public transport can serve dual roles in mobility and grid support, especially in densely populated areas.
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Electric Nation Vehicle to Grid (UK, 2020-2022)
Electric Nation was one of the UK’s largest domestic V2G trials, launched at a time of rising energy prices, supply concerns, and growing demand for green technology. An innovation project by Western Power Distribution, it recruited 100 Nissan EV owners to trial V2G smart charging from their homes. The goal was to explore how V2G could provide grid services like reserve support, load balancing, and time-shifting – allowing participants to feed power back into the grid during peak hours and draw from it when needed, all using 100% renewable energy.
Unlike other UK trials at the time, Electric Nation partnered with five energy suppliers instead of just one. This multi-partner approach demonstrated how EVs could help stabilise the grid while still meeting drivers’ mobility needs. The project influenced UK energy policy and proved the commercial viability of domestic V2G, with participants benefiting from reduced energy costs through smart charging. Its robust data and policy impact have made it a landmark initiative for advancing home-based V2G solutions.
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Realising electric vehicle-to-grid services (Australia, 2020-2023)
At the time, Australia’s largest V2G trial was also the first to use a fleet of vehicles. The project deployed 51 bidirectional chargers across 11 buildings in Canberra, supporting 51 V2G-capable EVs. Funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and involving local energy retailer ActewAGL, it aimed to showcase how EVs could provide frequency response and reserve services to the grid.
The trial revealed that a single EV could earn up to £5,800 by participating in New South Wales’ 60-second Frequency Control Ancillary Services market. It also highlighted technical and regulatory challenges, helping shape national standards and frameworks for bidirectional energy flow – laying the foundation for future commercial rollout.
In 2024, a storm knocked out power lines west of Melbourne, forcing shutdowns and blackouts across southern Australia. In Canberra, 16 vehicles from the original trial fed power back into the grid. While modest in scale, researchers noted that if all 100,000 EVs sold in Australia in 2023 had been V2G-capable, they could have matched the power needs of both the ACT and New South Wales.
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Direct Solar DC V2G Hub (Netherlands, 2020–2023)
The Direct Solar DC V2G Hub in Lelystad, Netherlands involved 14 charge points, including 10 DC V2G chargers (10kW each) and 2 AC double socket chargers (22kW each). It was a noteworthy V2G project because of its integration of a PV system, generating around 100,000kWh per year, and a CPO backend with an Energy Management System (EMS). By connecting to the energy market, the trial aimed to optimise energy flows between a building, which was Mijndomein’s headquarters in Lelystad, and PV panels, and electric vehicles.
The EMS, using algorithms, managed the assets and energy flows, demonstrating the potential for smart grid integration and market participation of V2G technology. This made it a comprehensive demonstration of V2G in a real-world setting and, by creating a renewable energy ecosystem, it maximised the value of solar generation and inspired similar projects across Europe, demonstrating V2G’s compatibility with renewables.
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E.ON, XENON, and FIEGE and gridX’s xSite Project (Germany, 2021-2025)
The xSite project, using gridX’s XENON platform, highlights V2G’s commercial potential at FIEGE’s site in Greven, Germany. The xSite dynamic load management project features 10 intelligent AC (alternating current) charging points that supply the electric vehicles of FIEGE employees and visitors with up to 22kW of power from E.ON green electricity. Two further special DC (direct current) charging points with a capacity of 10 kW enable e-cars to also be used as electricity storage units within an additional xSite pilot project.
Through this project, the energy can be fed back from the electric-vehicle batteries into the charging station during longer charging periods, allowing the electricity to also be simultaneously used elsewhere. Offering grid support and optimising energy costs for commercial fleets, with estimated savings of €6,000-13,000 (£5,190-11,240) annually for the 12 chargers. By incorporating bidirectional charging into logistics, xSite demonstrates how businesses can reduce costs and emissions, setting a standard for commercial V2G use.
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DROSSONE V2G Project (Italy, 2023–ongoing)
The DROSSONE project, one of Europe’s largest commercial V2G deployments, is unique because it aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a large-scale centralised V2G charging system – by using stationary storage of EVs while they are in the manufacturer’s car park. Fully funded by the EU Emissions Trading System, 280 vehicles using fast chargers are providing frequency response services to stabilise the grid during the working day.
This project is the first of its kind and will deliver a nominal capacity of 25MW between 2023 and 2027, with the initial 280 vehicles extending to interconnect up to 700 EVs. By using a large fleet for vital grid support, it shows V2G’s scalability and commercial potential in high-demand markets. This project’s ongoing success serves as a test case for large-scale V2G implementation, and could affect regulatory and technical frameworks across Europe.
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ESO and Octopus Energy’s PowerLoop and Domestic V2G Trials (UK, 2023-Ongoing)
Octopus Energy’s PowerLoop domestic V2G trials are being conducted to prepare the company to be the first to enter National Grid ESO, now known as National Energy System Operator’s Balancing Mechanism, which is the largest flexibility marketplace in the UK. Developed by a consortium run by Octopus Electric Vehicles and Octopus Energy in partnership with UK Power Networks (UKPN), Energy Saving Trust, Open Energi, CPS, and Guidehouse, Powerloop has allowed over 130 electric vehicles (EVs) to become both generators and consumers of energy.
Hundreds of domestic EV owners during the trial can earn up to £725 a year by supplying energy back to the grid. This project offers grid balancing and revenue generation, gaining popularity for its easy smart tariffs and consumer involvement. By providing real-world insights into domestic V2G, PowerLoop promotes adoption and illustrates the financial benefits of bidirectional charging for everyday users.
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China’s large-scale V2G pilot projects (China, 2025)
In April 2025, China’s National Development and Reform Commission launched its first large-scale (30 pilots) V2G trial projects across nine cities, including Chengdu, Beijing, and Shanghai. Shanghai, in particular, is a key city in the country’s V2G pilot efforts, with plans to install between 30,000 and 50,000 V2G-enabled charging stations by 2030. The trial involves 760 charging stations and more than 17,000 electric vehicles.
The pilot V2G trial is part of China’s broader effort to integrate V2G technology and promote the interaction of EVs with the power grid. Projects like Chengdu’s ‘Transportation and Energy Integration’ and Shanghai’s ‘Full-Scenario V2G Charging and Swapping Station’ also aim to connect EVs with renewable energy sources to improve grid stability. These initiatives are setting global standards for V2G scalability and market growth.
The road ahead
The 10 projects featured here represent what Versinetic considers true pioneers – each one proving that a resilient, sustainable, and smart energy future is not only possible, but also practical and profitable. As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of World EV Day, it’s clear the next five years will bring rapid growth in Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) adoption.
These initiatives demonstrate that V2G technology works – delivering real economic and environmental value at scale. More than just a smart charging solution, V2G is reshaping how we think about energy storage, grid stability, and renewable integration. Every electric vehicle becomes part of a vast, distributed energy network, offering flexibility and resilience that traditional systems can’t match.
With carmakers embracing bidirectional charging and utilities increasingly recognising the potential of V2G services, the boundaries between transportation and energy are dissolving. Electric vehicles are no longer just modes of transport – they’re evolving into active contributors to a cleaner, more dynamic energy system.
