What if your electric vehicle became more than just a means of transport?
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Article summary
Every evening, millions of motorists plug in their electric vehicles before heading indoors. Until now, the battery simply waited for the next journey. With V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid), it could also support the electricity grid and help its owner lower charging costs. This is the ambition behind the partnership between Renault Group and EDF, which aims to accelerate the deployment of this technology across France.
Key takeaways
- Renault Group and EDF Group are joining forces to accelerate the development of smart charging solutions for electric vehicles in France.
- At the heart of the partnership is V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, which enables Renault, Alpine and Dacia electric vehicles to feed part of the electricity stored in their batteries back into the grid when plugged in.
- For motorists, V2G can help reduce charging costs. Depending on usage, the benefit can be equivalent to up to 10,000 kilometres driven per year*.
- For single-family homes, the partnership covers the sale and installation of charging stations, charging optimisation and the development of new energy services.
- The ambition is to make electric mobility simpler, more affordable and more accessible for people in France, while also contributing to the energy transition.
With bidirectional charging, your car keeps working after you park it
The scene has become familiar. At the end of the day, a driver arrives home, parks their electric vehicle and plugs it into a charging station. Then they move on with their evening. The car, meanwhile, remains parked all night long.
It is precisely during these long hours of inactivity that V2G comes into play. Because a charged battery can do more than simply wait for the next trip. Thanks to bidirectional charging, electricity no longer flows only from the grid to the vehicle. It can also flow in the opposite direction.
In practical terms, when a compatible vehicle is connected to a suitable charging station, part of the energy stored in its battery can be returned to the electricity grid when needed. The concept may sound technical, but the goal is straightforward: to make better use of a battery that would otherwise remain idle while the vehicle is parked. This approach opens the door to new uses and gives electric vehicles an entirely new role in everyday life.
Why Renault Group is partnering with EDF
For Renault Group, the challenge is not only to develop bidirectional charging technologies, including V2G. It is also about making them accessible to as many people as possible.
That is the purpose of the partnership signed with EDF and its subsidiaries IZI by EDF and DREEV**. Together, the partners aim to offer a more comprehensive solution combining electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and smart energy services.
This collaboration is built on a shared belief: the growth of electric mobility depends not only on vehicles themselves but also on the services that support them. To encourage more motorists to switch to electric, charging must be easy to use, seamlessly integrated into everyday life and capable of delivering tangible benefits.
The partnership focuses on three key areas:
- The sale and installation of charging stations;
- The development of services that simplify and optimise charging;
- The creation of new energy services making use of the energy stored in vehicle batteries.
Beyond the technology itself, the objective is to simplify the home charging experience and develop new services around electric vehicle ownership.
Savings for drivers, greater flexibility for the grid
Purchasing power is one of the key issues addressed by this partnership.
Thanks to V2G, the energy stored in a vehicle battery can be monetised through services offered to users. For vehicle owners, this can translate into lower charging costs. Depending on usage patterns, the potential benefit can be equivalent to up to 10,000 kilometres driven per year. This estimate depends on several factors, including the vehicle model, its energy consumption and the amount of time it remains plugged in at home.
V2G also delivers collective benefits. Every connected battery represents an available energy reserve. When large numbers of vehicles participate, they can help provide greater flexibility to the electricity grid by supplying energy when it is needed.
Additional applications may also emerge over time. V2H (Vehicle-to-Home), for example, allows the energy stored in a vehicle battery to be used to power a home.
For decades, a car had just one purpose: to drive. V2G adds a new one. When parked and plugged in, a vehicle can also contribute to the operation of the electricity grid and generate value for its owner. It may seem like a small change today, but it could significantly transform the way we think about vehicles in the future.
(*) Depending on the type of vehicle, its energy consumption and the amount of time it remains plugged in at home.
(**) EDF Business Services subsidiary
The partnership at a glance
Partners
- Renault Group
- EDF
- IZI by EDF
- DREEV
Objective
Make electric mobility simpler and more affordable through the development of smart charging solutions and the accelerated deployment of V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology.
Who benefits?
- Individuals living in single-family homes and driving a Renault, Alpine or Dacia electric vehicle;
- Future electric vehicle buyers;
- More broadly, the French electricity system.
Key benefits
- Lower vehicle charging costs;
- Better use of the energy stored in vehicle batteries;
- Greater flexibility for the electricity grid;
- New energy services built around electric vehicles;
- Support for the energy transition.
Where?
France.
When?
The rollout of these offers is scheduled through summer 2027.
The three areas of collaboration
- The sale and installation of charging stations;
- Charging optimisation services;
- New energy services based on electric vehicle batteries.
FAQ
01
What is V2G?
02
How does bidirectional charging work?
03
What is the difference between V2G, V2H and V2L?
04
How much can you save with V2G?
05
Why is Renault Group partnering with EDF?
V2G, or Vehicle-to-Grid, is a technology that enables an electric vehicle to feed electricity back into the grid when connected to a compatible charging station.
Unlike conventional charging, electricity can flow in both directions: from the grid to the vehicle, and from the vehicle back to the grid when required.
V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) allows a vehicle to feed electricity back into the grid. V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) allows a vehicle battery to supply power to a home. V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) allows electrical devices to be powered directly from the vehicle.
Depending on usage, the benefit can be equivalent to up to 10,000 kilometres driven per year. This figure varies according to the vehicle, its energy consumption and how long it remains plugged in at home.
The objective is to accelerate the development of smart charging solutions and make V2G available to more customers by combining the expertise of two major players in the automotive and energy sectors.
