Smart-charging and V2G critical for cost savings, grid stability and renewables integration

• Moving to electric, smart-charging and selling energy back to the grid could save family car owners an average of 20% on total cost of vehicle ownership.
• Flexibility will help drive €4bn in annual savings for European grid operators.
• By 2030, EVs could contribute 4% of Europe’s annual power supply — enough to power 30 million homes per year.

EY predicts that by 2030, there will be more than 50 million electric vehicles (EVs) on Europe’s roads, representing 15% of the total vehicle stock. As electrification accelerates, ensuring the cost-effectiveness, stability, and efficiency of the power grid will require managing how and when EVs are charged and using the electricity stored in the battery to provide valuable flexibility services to the power grid. A new report from EY and Eurelectric — Plugging into potential: unleashing the untapped flexibility of EVs — explores how unidirectional smart-charging, which allows EVs to draw power from the grid at optimal times, and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology, allowing EVs to both draw power and send electricity back to the grid, can reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) for consumers, provide grid balancing solutions, and accelerate renewable energy adoption.

Serge Colle, EY Global Power & Utilities Leader, says:

"By 2030, flexibility resources across Europe will need to more than double to keep pace with an increasingly intermittent power system. EVs — already abundant and rapidly growing in number — are a readily-available, scalable, and cost-effective asset to provide that flexibility. By shifting EV charging to optimal times and enabling V2G, we can reduce energy costs for consumers substantially, alleviate grid stress, and support the integration of renewables into the energy system."

EV flexibility unlocks significant cost savings for consumers

Harnessing EV flexibility can significantly reduce vehicle TCO for consumers when compared with an internal combustion engine vehicle. EY calculates that simply by switching to an equivalent electric vehicle, annual savings of 4% in the compact segment, 9% in the family car segment and 14% for large/sports utility vehicles (SUVs) could be realized on average across six key markets in Europe.

However, while savings vary market to market, the study finds that when optimally charged and rewarded for selling energy back to the grid, vehicle TCO reduces significantly:

• A compact EV owner in the UK could save up to 19% (€1,230 annually). In Germany, Sweden and Spain, the TCO could be reduced by as much as 14%. In France and the Netherlands, savings of 7% and 9% respectively, may be realized.
• The family segment could reward drivers with 15% (€1,200) annual savings in France, rising to 23% (€1,800 annually) in Germany.
• In the SUV segment, drivers in the UK could realize savings of up to 26% annually, while their German counterparts could enjoy savings of 29% (€3,000).

Flexibility will help drive €4bn in annual savings

Smart-charging and V2G are not just beneficial to EV owners — they are essential for managing grid congestion and reducing network investment costs. The report finds that:

• By investing ahead to meet future demand, optimizing the grid and making use of flexibility from available assets, European grid operators could benefit from a projected €4bn saving every year.
• By 2030, EVs could contribute up to 4% of Europe’s annual power supply, equating to 114TWh — enough to power 30 million homes.
• By 2040, if all EVs are capable of bidirectional charging, over 10% of Europe’s power needs could be stored and reinjected when needed.

Renewable integration and peak demand balancing

With Europe’s power mix shifting rapidly toward renewables, the ability to store and discharge energy when needed is becoming critical. The report highlights:

• Instances of negative electricity pricing jumped 160% year-on-year. These were registered in nearly every European electricity market, driven by growth in subsidized, price-insensitive generation capacity, such as nuclear and rooftop solar, combined with low demand. 
• Demand for flexibility will double in Europe by 2030.
• EV flexibility could help avoid renewable energy curtailment and ensure power is available when demand peaks.

This makes unidirectional and bidirectional charging not so much options but necessities. EVs have the potential to deliver among the most affordable, scalable and flexible solutions to localized energy needs, while driving down the price tag for network investment.

Kristian Ruby, Eurelectric Secretary General, says:

"Mass market adoption of EVs is happening, but to truly unlock their value, we must integrate them into the grid as flexibility assets. Smart-charging and V2G will be key enablers of this transition."

A necessity, not an option – but driver support is critical

With Europe’s power demand forecast to exceed 4,500 TWh by 2050, smart-charging and V2G must be embedded into energy system planning now, encouraging consumer participation in flexibility.

Serge adds: "For consumers to play an active role in flexibility, the entire e-mobility ecosystem must help them consider EVs as something more than simply a means of getting from A to B. Easy-to-use smart-charging propositions, with clear cost benefits are critical to consumer engagement and adoption. But time is running out because flexibility resources must double within the next five years to match the speed and scale of electrification. “

Explore the six prerequisites to unlock value from EVs as flexibility assets and support accelerated commercialization here.

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