- Renault Group, alongside Dutch solar charging specialists We Drive Solar and Dutch on-demand car sharing firm, MyWheels, have created an agreement which could result in launching Europe’s first large-scale car sharing service that integrates sustainable and cost-saving vehicle-to-grid technology.
- Under the agreement, Renault Group will provide 500 fleet vehicles, consisting primarily of Renault 5 EV models, equipped with Mobilize’s V2G tech.
- We Drive Solar will then provide the bidirectional charging stations used by the fleet, whilst MyWheels themselves will operate and manage the fleet, which is set to be launched in the Netherlands’ fourth largest city, Utrecht.
A sustainability boost to car-sharing services
Car-sharing services, and particularly EV-based ones, are already proving themselves to be more sustainable than private car ownership, but this trio of firms look set to increase that sustainability aspect even further, by integrating vehicle-to-grid technology into this incoming 500-large fleet. The Netherlands has already become a European leader when it comes to renewable energies such as solar and wind – and in the first half of this year, the majority of the country’s electricity production came from renewable sources. These 500 cars will also boost the strength of the electricity grid in the Utrecht region, by providing 10% of the flexibility required to cope with peak hour demand.
Renault notes that other EVs considered being added to the scheme include its new Renault 4 E-Tech, Megane E-Tech, and Scenic E-Tech models. Under this scheme, a balance will be need to struck however. Whilst putting energy back into the grid at times of demand from this EV fleet will generate revenue, and potentially lower the cost of the service to user, care will need to be taken to ensure a drivable amount of power remains – as these vehicles are expected to be available on demand, at less predictable times than a privately-owned EV.
