The V2G status quo – how much progress has been made in which country?

April 09, 2025

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

The technology is one thing; the regulatory framework is another matter entirely. Germany is also catching up in this field, while the UK is already further ahead in this respect. The Netherlands is also playing a very active role in bidirectional charging.

Strommaste im Sonnenuntergang an Autobahn

Frankreich

France launched several V2G pilot projects as early as 2018, e.g. in cooperation with island grids or urban projects. The government saw V2G as a building block for grid stability early on.

Now our neighbors have become the first country in the world to make vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology commercially available to electric car drivers. When the Renault R5 is connected to the grid, the vehicle battery can not only return energy to the grid, but also actively participate in the energy market and thus become part of the power grid.

  • Technology and vehicles: France is a pioneer in the commercial introduction of V2G. In October 2024, Renault Group, Mobilize and we launched a V2G program that allows owners of the Renault 5 to charge their vehicles bidirectionally and feed excess energy back into the grid. This is made possible by the PowerBox Verso bidirectional AC charging station and a special energy contract.
  • Legal framework: France has created the necessary regulatory conditions to enable V2G commercially, which promotes the integration of electric vehicles into the electricity grid.

United Kingdom

Vehicle-to-grid has already been tried out in several test projects in the UK. However, it is not easy to make V2G widespread. One reason for this is the high cost of obtaining approval for charging systems with more than 3.5 kW of power. These must meet strict technical requirements. However, further development can benefit from the fact that there is already a standardized procedure for the grid connection of certified charging systems in the UK - and that users are gaining more and more experience with flexible electricity tariffs.

  • Technology and vehicles: The UK plans to introduce V2G in 2025 and Nissan has announced plans to introduce affordable V2G technology from 2026, starting in the UK and then in other European markets.
  • Legal framework: The country is considered progressive in the development of V2G regulations. The regulatory authority OFGEM is currently preparing adjustments to implement V2G across the board.

Germany

In Germany, much depends on the smart meter rollout: with less than 10% of devices installed to date, this does not yet enable the large-scale use of small-scale flexibility. Germany also differs from France and the UK in that it has a large number of distribution system operators (DSOs), some of which are small.

Because more electricity storage is needed, V2G is interesting for electricity trading and grid services such as redispatch*. In Germany, V2G can help to bring more green electricity into the grid. Many technical problems have already been solved, especially with regard to communication in buildings. Nevertheless, V2G is still being held back by a lack of standards. As there are many grid operators in Germany, uniform implementation is more difficult than in other countries.

  • Technology and vehicles: In Germany, V2G implementation is currently limited to pilot projects. There are no commercial offers for end consumers yet.
  • Legal framework: Germany is working on developing the regulatory framework for V2G. However, there are currently no clear strategies for integrating bidirectional charging into the energy system.

*Redispatch refers to interventions in the generation capacity of power plants in order to protect sections of the grid from overloading. If a bottleneck threatens at a certain point in the grid, power plants on this side of the bottleneck are instructed to reduce their feed-in, while plants on the other side of the bottleneck must increase their feed-in capacity. Source: Bundesnetzagentur (German)

The Netherlands

Since 2019, we have been involved in a project at Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff ArenA (JCA) in which a bidirectional vehicle is connected to the existing 3-megawatt battery storage system, consisting of 148 Nissan Leaf batteries, and the 1-megawatt photovoltaic system on the roof of the arena using innovative charging and energy management. The intelligent software control system from The Mobility House enables electric cars belonging to stadium visitors - with the owner's consent - not only to draw power from the charging station, but also to return it to the stadium under intelligent control during the course of their stay.

  • Technology and vehicles: The Netherlands is known for its numerous V2G pilot projects. Cities such as Arnhem and Utrecht have been successfully testing bidirectional charging for several years. For example, Hyundai launched a V2G trial in Utrecht with the IONIQ 5.
  • Legal framework conditions: Although there are many pilot projects, the nationwide commercial implementation of V2G is still in the development phase.
Japan

Japan’s Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) market has gained significant momentum in recent years, driven by the country’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions and the growing importance of electric vehicles. A key player in Japan's V2G market is Nissan. At the forefront of EV innovation, Nissan has integrated V2G capabilities into its electric vehicles, such as the Nissan LEAF. The company has participated in pilot projects and collaborations with utility companies to test and implement V2G technologies. Nissan’s commitment to sustainable mobility aligns with Japan’s vision of a clean and energy-efficient transportation system.

Technology and Vehicles:

  • Pilot Projects and Partnerships: As early as 2018, Toyota Tsusho and Chubu Electric Power launched Japan’s first V2G project in collaboration with Nuvve. The goal was to explore grid balance between electricity supply and demand through bidirectional charging.
  • Commercial Applications: Starting in 2026, Nissan plans to offer affordable bidirectional charging solutions for selected electric vehicles. This technology enables the energy stored in vehicle batteries to be fed back into the grid or used for personal consumption.

Legal Framework:

  • While Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) applications are already commercially available in Japan, V2G applications are still in the testing phase. The legal framework for the widespread implementation of V2G is currently being developed.

USA

At Intersolar & Energy Storage North America 2025, a group of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) experts discussed how electric vehicles (EVs) can enhance grid stability. The panel agreed that standardizing V2G implementation is essential to reduce market volatility and ensure consistent adoption by utility companies. They also highlighted a marketing challenge: private consumers need to understand that their electric vehicles can serve as grid resources. To achieve this, tangible benefits—such as the ability to provide emergency power—must be clearly communicated. EVs could thus become unique, decentralized energy assets that offer reliability and resilience unmatched by other systems like solar panels.

  • Technology and Vehicles: In the U.S., V2G is primarily being tested through pilot projects and research initiatives. A nationwide commercial rollout has yet to occur.
  • Legal Framework: Regulatory requirements for V2G vary from state to state. Uniform national guidelines have not yet been established.

Australia

In Australia, V2G is an important emerging technology.

  • Technology: In November 2024 the Australian Government hit a milestone when Standards Australia accepted a new standard for V2G charging.
  • Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen stated: “This approval paves the way for manufacturers and charging companies to register their products with the Clean Energy Council, making bidirectional charging a reality by Christmas.”

Despite these advances, the availability of bidirectional chargers remains a challenge, as the Wallbox Quasar 1 is currently the only certified and very expensive charger in Australia, with only conditional approval in South Australia. The situation may change with the launch of the Quasar 2, expected in 2025.

Source: Mitsubishi Motors Australien