Vanaf vandaag starten de eerste elektrische Renault 5 E-Tech deelauto’s in Eindhoven met het terugleveren van energie aan het Eindhovense elektriciteitsnet. Hiervoor werkt Gemeente Eindhoven samen met netbeheerder Enexis, We Drive Solar, MyWheels en Renault Group. Dit jaar gaan 28 deelauto’s in Eindhoven rijden die energie kunnen terugleveren. Volgend jaar breidt MyWheels dit uit naar 100 V2G-deelauto’s. Verspreid door de stad plaatsen ze 50 bidirectionele laadpalen, elk met twee aansluitingen. 

V2G: rijdende batterijen
​Afgelopen zomer vond in Utrecht het eerste V2G-deelautoproject plaats. Eindhoven volgt met deze combinatie van deelmobiliteit en slimme energietechnologie. De elektrische voertuigen slaan energie op als het aanbod van groene energie groot is en leveren deze terug tijdens piekmomenten. Door de decentrale technologie schaalbaar in te zetten, helpen de rijdende batterijen het lokale energienet te balanceren en de capaciteit van duurzame energie beter te benutten.
 
Netbeheerder Stedin geeft aan dat er positieve resultaten zijn van vijf maanden Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) laden in Utrecht. Met 50 auto’s werd in de avonduren tot 300 kW aan netcongestie verminderd en samen ruim 65.000 kWh teruggeleverd aan het net. Met de bijplaatsing van 120 V2G-deelauto’s in Utrecht wordt deze winter geprobeerd om op meerdere momenten 1 MW aan congestievermindering te realiseren door de aansturing verder te optimaliseren. Dit komt overeen met de piekvraag van ongeveer 1.000 huishoudens tijdens de avonduren. 

Stimulans voor duurzame stedelijke innovatie
Eindhoven is de tweede locatie voor dit innovatieve samenwerkingsproject. De stad zet sterk in op duurzame mobiliteit, slimme infrastructuur en energiebeheer: thema’s die naadloos aansluiten bij de V2G-technologie.

​Robert Strijk, wethouder Mobiliteit voor de gemeente Eindhoven, zegt: “Het principe van elektrische deelauto’s die ook energie terugleveren past perfect bij onze visie op een slimme, schone en leefbare stad. De technologie belooft een dubbele winst: duurzame mobiliteit én een slim energiesysteem. Tegelijk willen we realistisch blijven en gaan we in de praktijk onderzoeken of deze auto's inderdaad bijdragen aan netbalancering en een lager autobezit. Dan kunnen we bepalen of het werkt voor onze stad."
 
Laurens van de Vijver, CEO van MyWheels: “Met de uitbreiding naar Eindhoven zetten we een volgende stap in onze missie om de mobiliteitstransitie te versnellen. Voertuigen die rijden én energie leveren is niet langer toekomstmuziek maar realiteit. Zo lossen we mobiliteits- en energievraagstukken tegelijk op.”​

Meer: The Sharing Group

In Partnership with We Drive Solar, Renault Group is launching a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) service in the Netherlands. This innovative service allows private consumers to use their vehicles to lower their household electricity expenses. Simultaneously, it empowers them to play a role in alleviating pressure on the power grid during peak hours, actively supporting the advancement of the energy transition.
 
In the Netherlands, more than 70% of EV drivers’ homes are equipped with solar panels*. With the end of the ["salderingsregeling"] net metering scheme approaching by January 2027, interest is growing in reusing cheap and/or self-generated energy. V2G offers a solution to this, while also contributing to balancing the electricity grid in the Netherlands.

​Thanks to V2G technology, charging becomes bidirectional. The service not only allows charging to be temporarily paused during peak hours but also enables electricity to be fed back into the grid when demand is high. The car charges at times when the supply of renewable energy on the grid is high and electricity is therefore cheaper, allowing customers to achieve substantial savings. This has no impact on the vehicle’s driving range: the system guarantees that the car is charged to the customer’s requested level when needed.

V2G in the Netherlands
Since bidirectional charging is a complex new technology and each energy grid in Europe has its own operators and specific characteristics, Renault Group and its long-standing partner We Drive Solar have chosen to build a local ecosystem in the Netherlands. We Drive Solar is a leading provider of innovative charging infrastructure. The company has been active in bidirectional charging solutions for ten years and has played a key role in several world firsts, including  Utrecht energized in collaboration with carshareprovider MyWheels.

The following components will be required for customers to benefit from this V2G service:

• A Renault Group electric vehicle with an onboard charger suitable for V2G. Initially, this includes the Renault 5 E-Tech electric, Renault 4 E-Tech electric, and Alpine A290. Customers can check with their dealer whether their model is compatible.
• The Solar Life bidirectional V2G charging station from We Drive Solar**.
• A specific dynamic energy contract from one of the compatible suppliers like Hegg Energy – there will be more than one compatible supplier, to enhance consumer choice – along with the corresponding mobile app.
• Additionally, the home must be located in the Netherlands, suitable for installing a home charger, and equipped with a fixed internet connection, a 3-phase connection, and a smart meter.

Market Introduction
In the coming weeks, a select group of early adopters will begin onboarding to take advantage of the V2G service. The full market launch for the general public is scheduled for the first half of 2026.
Over the course of 2026, the V2G service should also become available for use with other Renault Group vehicles. This concerns models equipped with the appropriate V2G on-board charger. Further product information will be communicated at that time.
More information: v2g.wedrivesolar.nl
 
(*) Nationaal Laadonderzoek 2023 (ElaadNL, VER, RVO) 
(**) This station can also charge electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles that are not V2G-compatible, but cannot feed electricity back into the grid.

About We Drive Solar
We Drive Solar is a leading provider of smart charging infrastructure supporting a fully renewable energy system. Active for ten years in bidirectional solutions, the company supplies AC bidirectional chargers to international clients. Working with manufacturers such as Renault, We Drive Solar has achieved several world firsts in bidirectional charging.
More information: www.wedrivesolar.nl​

In Nederland beschikt meer dan 70% van de EV-rijders thuis over zonnepanelen*. Met het einde van de salderingsregeling (januari 2027) in het verschiet, groeit de interesse voor hergebruik van goedkope en/of eigen opgewekte energie. V2G vormt een oplossing hiervoor, terwijl het tegelijkertijd bijdraagt aan het balanceren van het elektriciteitsnet in Nederland.
Dankzij V2G-technologie is laden bidirectioneel. Deze V2G service maakt het niet alleen mogelijk om het laden tijdens piekuren tijdelijk te onderbreken, maar ook om stroom terug te leveren aan het net wanneer de vraag naar elektriciteit hoog is. Het laden van de auto gebeurt op momenten dat het aanbod van hernieuwbare energie op het elektriciteitsnet groot is en de stroom dus goedkoper,waardoor consumenten aanzienlijk kunnen besparen. De technologie heeft geen invloed op de gewenste actieradius: het systeem zorgt ervoor dat de auto wordt opgeladen tot het door de klant gewenste niveau, zodat die klaar is voor gebruik wanneer dat nodig is.

V2G in Nederland
Aangezien bidirectioneel laden een complexe nieuwe techniek is en ieder energienetwerk in Europa zijn eigen netbeheerders en specifieke kenmerken heeft, hebben Renault Group en vertrouwde partner We Drive Solar ervoor gekozen om in Nederland een lokaal ecosysteem op te tuigen: We Drive Solar, een toonaangevende aanbieder van innovatieve laadinfrastructuur. We Drive Solar is al tien jaar actief op het gebied van bidirectionele laadoplossingen en heeft een sleutelrol gespeeld bij meerdere wereldprimeurs, waaronder Utrecht energized in samenwerking met MyWheels de grootste deelautoaanbieder in Nederland.

Voor klanten die van de V2G-service willen profiteren, zijn de volgende onderdelen vereist:

• Een elektrische auto van Renault Group met een voor V2G geschikte boordlader. In eerste instantie zijn dat de Renault 5 E-Tech electric, de Renault 4 E-Tech electric en de Alpine A290. Via de dealer kunnen klanten checken of het desbetreffende model geschikt is voor V2G.
• Het V2G bidirectionele laadstation Solar Life van We Drive Solar**.
• Een specifiek dynamisch energiecontract van een van de daarvoor geschikte energieleveranciers zoals Hegg Energy met bijbehorende mobiele app.
• Verder dient de woning in Nederland te staan, geschikt te zijn om een thuislader te plaatsen en voorzien te zijn van een vaste internetverbinding, een 3-fase aansluiting en een slimme meter.

Marktintroductie V2G
In de komende weken begint een selecte groep early adopters met het gebruik van de V2G-service. De volledige marktintroductie voor het brede publiek staat gepland voor de eerste helft van 2026.
In de loop van 2026 wordt de V2G-service naar verwachting ook beschikbaar voor gebruik met andere elektrische modellen van Renault Group. Het gaat hierbij om auto’s die zijn uitgerust met een boordlader die geschikt is voor V2G-technologie. Verdere productinformatie wordt op dat moment gecommuniceerd.
Meer informatie: v2g.wedrivesolar.nl
 
* Nationaal Laadonderzoek 2023 (ElaadNL, VER, RVO)
** Met dit laadstation kunnen ook niet voor V2G geschikte elektrische of plug-in hybride auto’s opgeladen worden, maar geen stroom terugleveren.

Over We Drive Solar
We Drive Solar is een toonaangevende aanbieder van slimme laadinfrastructuur ter ondersteuning van een volledig hernieuwbaar energiesysteem. Het bedrijf is al tien jaar actief op het gebied van bidirectionele oplossingen en levert AC-bidirectionele laders aan internationale klanten. In samenwerking met autofabrikanten zoals Renault heeft We Drive Solar meerdere wereldprimeurs gerealiseerd op het gebied van bidirectioneel laden.
Meer informatie: www.wedrivesolar.nl
​

Sinds 2017 reikt de Vereniging Elektrische Rijders (VER) jaarlijks de ‘Gouden Stekker’ uit. Deze trofee is een eerbetoon aan mensen of instanties die zich op onderscheidende wijze hebben ingezet voor het stimuleren van elektrisch rijden. Traditioneel wordt de ‘Gouden Stekker’ tijdens EV Experience, in Nederland het grootste evenement op het gebied van elektrisch rijden, overhandigd aan de winnaar. Dit jaar heeft het VER-bestuur besloten Robin Berg, CEO van We Drive Solar, tot winnaar uit te roepen. Berg krijgt de onderscheiding omdat hij na jarenlange inspanningen bidirectioneel laden in Utrecht tot werkelijkheid heeft gemaakt.

​De Gouden Stekker is een erkenning van de VER voor langjarige inzet op allerlei vlakken van elektrisch rijden. Bijvoorbeeld op bestuurlijk niveau of in de informatievoorziening. Een ander belangrijk criterium is dat een winnaar laat zien dat elektrisch rijden meer is dan alleen mobiliteit. 
 
Robin Berg ontvangt zijn ‘Gouden Stekker’ omdat hij samen met zijn partners en ondanks vele uitdagingen bidirectioneel laden concreet van de grond heeft gekregen. We Drive Solar is een internationale voorloper die de potentie van bidirectioneel laden in de samenleving concreet zichtbaar maakt. Al meer dan tien jaar werkt Berg er met grote vasthoudendheid aan om elektrische auto’s tot de onmisbare schakel in het energiesysteem te maken en met ‘Utrecht Energized is dat gelukt.
 
In zijn reactie op de onderscheiding benadrukt Robin Berg dat de support voor bidirectioneel laden vanuit de VER heel belangrijk is: "Veel dank voor deze prachtige ‘Gouden Stekker’. De VER-steun betekent erg veel voor ons, zeker nu bidirectioneel laden van de testomgeving in de handen gaat komen van elektrische rijders in Nederland,” aldus de We Drive Solar CEO. De pilot in Utrecht ziet Berg dan ook als startpunt voor de nabije toekomst. “Laten we samen zorgen dat elektrische rijders maximaal gaan profiteren van deze nieuwe techniek door met de inzet van autobatterijen zo snel mogelijk over te stappen naar een 100% schoon energiesysteem.”
 
Bij zijn oproep staat Robin Berg ook stil bij de cruciale rol van zijn partners. “De lange weg om bidirectioneel laden in de praktijk te brengen zou onmogelijk geweest zijn zonder het commitment van onze partners MyWheels, The Sharing Group, Koolen Industries, Stedin, Last Mile Solutions, ElaadNL, Gemeente Utrecht en uiteraard Renault Group. Deze Gouden Stekker delen we daarom ook beslist met hen."  

VER-voorzitter Leonie van den Beuken licht de keuze om Robin Berg tot winnaar van de ‘Gouden Stekker 2025’ uit te roepen toe: “Robin heeft de afgelopen tien jaar op bevlogen wijze zijn visie om elektrische auto’s onderdeel van het stroomnet te maken, tot realiteit gemaakt. Daarvoor heeft hij vanuit We Drive Solar op eigen kracht een unieke samenwerking tussen gemeente, lokale partijen, netbeheerders, een deelautobedrijf en een autofabrikant tot stand gebracht. Al deze stakeholders op één lijn krijgen was niet altijd gemakkelijk, maar Robin kreeg dit met zijn enthousiasme, creativiteit én volhardendheid voor elkaar.” ​

The launch (video) of this large‑scale car‑sharing service, using the V2G technology - was announced in November 2024 and is now live. Representing a decisive step towards cleaner mobility, this initiative promotes large‑scale availability of electric shared cars while helping to balance the city’s electricity network through the pioneering bidirectional charging technology. The Netherlands is a global leader in solar and wind-based energy deployment, and Utrecht ranks among Europe’s most progressive renewable‑energy cities, with 35 % of roofs equipped with solar panels.  The use of renewables presents challenges for the grid due to their massive deployment, causing high peaks in energy supply. To manage the grid with a high proportion of renewables requires a system that quickly adapts to the changes in energy generation and consumption. This is where the V2G technology steps in to address these challenges.
 
The roll‑out is now live with 50 Renault 5 E‑Tech electric cars. Available via a car‑sharing service managed by MyWheels, the vehicles use V2G bidirectional charging technology developed by Mobilize, Renault Group’s brand dedicated to new mobilities. It is the first time this innovative technology has been made available for public infrastructure, provided by We Drive Solar. The 500 bidirectional cars can deliver 10 % of the flexibility required in the Utrecht region to balance solar‑ and wind‑generated electricity at peak times.

SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR EVERYONE
The fleet will later expand with other E‑Tech electric models, further demonstrating Renault Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility and innovation. Their compact design and advanced technology make them ideal for city car‑sharing schemes moving towards cleaner travel. Mobilize’s V2G solution represents a major advance, enabling the public infrastructure and We Drive Solar’s services to contribute on a large scale to a more resilient, sustainable energy system.
 
A PARTNERSHIP WITH IMPACT
Renault’s shared cars, equipped with Mobilize’s V2G technology, let users charge with clean electricity and feed power back to the grid when demand is high. We Drive Solar, an international leader in smart charging, provides advanced charging solutions: bidirectional public AC chargers and aggregation technology that support Mobilize’s V2G toolkit. The 500 E‑Tech electric models are operated by MyWheels, the Netherlands’ biggest car‑sharing company. By combining mobility and energy solutions, MyWheels sets a new benchmark for car‑sharing and tackles key urban challenges.
 
This collaboration shows how public–private initiatives can deliver sustainable, efficient mobility solutions.

WE DRIVE SOLAR: BIDIRECTIONAL CHARGING IS THE ANSWER TO GRID CONGESTION
​
Over recent years Koolen Industries and We Drive Solar have invested heavily in developing advanced charging infrastructure, including bidirectional charging. The Solar City charging post from We Drive Solar can now be found across the Netherlands and is already being used by several leading customers. In Europe’s largest bidirectional charging project, now starting in Utrecht, this charger plays a key role.

“We are directly helping to reduce grid congestion in Utrecht with our technology,” says Robin Berg, Director of We Drive Solar. For more than fifteen years he has been using solar power to charge electric cars. Along the way he realised that those cars could play a crucial role in relieving the overloaded electricity grid.
“In 2016 we signed an agreement with Renault Group in Paris to explore bidirectional charging. This led to the 2019 pilot with the Renault ZOE in the city of Utrecht. That pilot paved the way for the scale‑up phase, which starts now. Because the demand for charging stations that are fit for the future energy system is growing, we are working with Koolen Industries, the investment group of Kees Koolen. Development, production and delivery of bidirectional charging solutions takes place in Hengelo under the name We Drive Solar.”
​
MARKET FOR CHARGING STATIONS
The charging‑station market has developed enormously in recent years. For almost a decade We Drive Solar has been a front‑runner in smart charging solutions. The company supplies bidirectional charging posts suitable for:

• energy balancing
• solar‑guided charging
• discharging vehicles

The chargers are also ready for smart charging (power management) with a limited grid connection. Where solar panels are present, the available capacity can be supplemented in real time with locally generated solar power. This allows more cars to charge simultaneously and can generate additional revenue for the housing association/homeowner or the owner of the solar panels.

SOLAR CITY CHARGER
The Solar City is a robust freestanding charger that provides the power and flexibility needed for larger charging demands. The post is designed for installation on a foundation and can charge two vehicles at the same time. It can also smart‑charge and balance the grid. Even in Utrecht’s historic city centre, the Solar City integrates seamlessly into the streetscape.
We Drive Solar also operates charging plazas beneath a Solar Carport, such as at insurance company a.s.r., CTpark Amsterdam City, the Jaarbeurs and Triodos Bank.
 
FULL V2G ECOSYSTEM
What makes this day unique is that it’s a full V2G ecosystem going live. On top of the integration of Mobilize V2G Toolkit with the We Drive Solar charger, a full V2G ecosystem is now in operation. We Drive Solar has developed an aggregation service based on the departure times of the shared cars and the hourly energy market prizes (EPEX). This means that MyWheels can actually make money as we are charging and discharging their cars; the grid congestion is lowered by discharging during peak hours, and renewable energy is being made available 24/7, allowing more renewables on the grid. This is now live on the 50 Renault 5 as of today.

BUSINESS CASE
There is a clear business case for the partners in these projects, as seen in the bidirectional ecosystem of Renault Group, We Drive Solar and MyWheels. Berg: “Solar energy is becoming available in ever‑greater quantities, and at the same time we need to relieve the grid because it is so congested. V2G technology is a smart and efficient solution. For at least ten years various parties have been trying to deploy the technology on a small scale, but no one has yet developed a scalable concept. Together with Renault Group we have now succeeded. Renault has integrated the technology into an affordable car and We Drive Solar has invested in a scalable charger.”
The partnership had to be financially attractive. The business case is compelling: because car sharing uses reservations, MyWheels knows exactly when a car needs to be fully charged. Charging and discharging can therefore be scheduled accurately. We Drive Solar has a dynamic energy contract for each charging post, so it is clear when electricity is cheap and cars should be charged. With plenty of wind overnight or sun during the day, electricity may cost only a few cents per kWh—or even be free. In the evening, when demand peaks, prices rise and feeding electricity back becomes attractive. The difference is the revenue model. For the grid operator Stedin this results in reduced congestion at peak times.

GRID CONGESTION IS URGENT IN UTRECHT
The Utrecht region has one of the most overloaded power grids in the Netherlands. That is why the city was chosen to launch the car‑sharing service with EVs and V2G technology. The 500 electric Renault models operated by MyWheels can relieve grid congestion by 5 megawatts. The regional shortfall at peaks, however, is 250 megawatts—so fifty times as many EVs are needed. Berg: “Scaling up is essential now. Renault can build the cars in two months, and we can supply the charging posts within a few months. The congestion in the region could be solved within a year.”
“We have calculated that 1.5 million bidirectional EVs would be needed to power the whole of the Netherlands,” Berg says. “If you use solar and wind energy for that, we have a sustainable energy system and no longer need coal‑ or gas‑fired plants. EVs also serve as a buffer to relieve grid peaks, reducing pressure on grid operators who cannot reinforce the network everywhere at once—there is a shortage of money, people and materials. Network expansion will still be necessary, but large‑scale bidirectional charging eases the immediate pressure.”

UNIVERSITY OF UTRECHT STUDY: SHARED CARS CUT GRID CONGESTION BY 50 %
Electric shared cars cause half as much grid congestion as privately owned electric cars. Car‑share users charge differently and avoid peak times. That is the conclusion of a 2020 study by Utrecht University: “The Impact of Transitioning to Shared Electric Vehicles on Grid Congestion and Management”.
More and more Dutch households are buying an electric car because they emit less CO₂ and particulate matter. The number of shared cars in the Netherlands has also grown sharply in recent years. Switching from private cars to shared EVs is sustainable because users drive less and fewer cars need to be produced.
Although the shift to electric mobility is crucial, charging EVs causes peaks in electricity demand. A large EV being charged can place the same load on the grid as several households. The more EVs there are, the greater the strain. That means grid operators must reinforce their networks, which raises social costs. If you can avoid these peaks, you can avoid the expense. Researchers at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University examined whether the transition to shared EVs has an effect on energy peaks when charging those cars. They used charging data from We Drive Solar’s shared EVs.
Current charging peaks occur on weekday evenings when EV drivers plug in after their trip, while households are using a lot of electricity for cooking, for example. The study shows that the peak falls by more than 50 % when a large share of residents switch to shared cars. Car‑share users are more inclined to choose other transport modes and drive fewer kilometres per car. Shared cars are also less often used for commuting, so fewer cars charge simultaneously when people arrive home from work.

BALANCING WITH ELECTRIC CARS
The study advocates further integration of shared EVs to prevent grid problems and even contribute positively to a more stable electricity network. The time an EV needs to charge is usually much shorter than the time it is plugged in. Research is therefore under way into how EV batteries can be used by grid operators to balance the system—for example by feeding electricity back to the neighbourhood at peak times. The study shows that the potential to balance the grid is greater when a large share of residents switch to shared EVs. Using EVs as batteries on wheels is currently being examined in the Smart Solar Charging project.

TU DELFT STUDY: CHARGING PAUSES DOUBLE SMART‑CHARGING EFFECTIVENESS
EVs are increasingly charged “smartly”, i.e. only at times when there is plenty of capacity on the grid and low electricity prices. Smart charging prevents overload and saves money. To make the most of smart charging you want not only to reduce charging speed during busy or expensive periods but also to pause charging altogether. Research from Utrecht University and TU Delft shows that adding charging pauses doubles the effectiveness of smart charging. Most cars already support this, but some models do not handle pauses well. The researchers call on car manufacturers to ensure that all models can cope. The standards exist but are not always applied correctly. Making technical smart‑charging requirements mandatory could help.

FLEET PROJECT BY STEDIN, BUSINESSES & ACADEMIA
Grid congestion is a growing problem in the Netherlands. One solution is smart EV charging, with charging speed adjusted to grid load. In the FLEET collaboration project, network operator Stedin, different companies and research institutions began smart‑charging on 380 public posts in Utrecht a few years ago. Smart charging in this trial was based on flexible grid tariffs. This experimental price signal reduced EV peak load by 15 %, relieving the local grid. Users generally noticed nothing because their cars were plugged in longer than necessary and there was enough space to charge them outside the peak.
During the FLEET experiment customers could opt out of smart charging at the post. Although they had said they wanted this option, in practice it was rarely used. Surveys showed that most drivers noticed nothing when the charging was delayed and were generally happy to help relieve grid congestion.
Although the FLEET experiment has ended, smart charging continues at Utrecht’s public posts. Control of the chargers has been switched to grid‑aware charging, which is now being further studied. This method has been rolled out nationwide since 2023. In this system the available capacity for charging EVs varies during the day according to grid load.

We Drive Solar wint de Laadinfra Innovatie Award: dé erkenning voor innovatieve oplossingen die bijdragen aan de toekomst van laadinfrastructuur in Nederland. Tijdens het Congres Laadinfra Nederland 2025, op 20 mei 2025 in Act Eventstudios, Arnhem, is deze prestigieuze prijs uitgereikt aan de meest baanbrekende innovatie binnen de sector. We Drive Solar heeft ook de publieksprijs gewonnen.
> ​We Drive Solar wins Laadinfra Innovation Award

​In recent years Koolen Industries and We Drive Solar have made significant investments in the development of advanced charging technologies, including bi-directional charging. We Drive Solar's Solar City public charging station can now be found in many places in the Netherlands and is already deployed by several key customers. In cooperation with Renault and MyWheels, the largest bi-directional charging project in Europe will be launched in Utrecht in Q1 of this year.
 
In doing so, we will directly contribute to reducing grid congestion in Utrecht with our technology.

​Due to the increased demand for charging stations suitable for the energy system of the future, Koolen Industries and We Drive Solar are intensifying their cooperation. From this week, the development, production and supply of bi-directional charging solutions will continue under the company name We Drive Solar.
 
Several new products will soon be introduced, including updated versions of the We Drive Solar Wallbox, both with one and two sockets.
 
The charging station market has undergone tremendous development in recent years. We Drive Solar has now been a frontrunner in smart and bi-directional charging solutions for almost a decade. Back in 2019, the company had a world first with AC bidirectional charging for the Renault ZOE. Under the new name We Drive Solar, the development and supply of bi-directional charging stations is better positioned than ever.
 
With this cooperation, Koolen Industries and We Drive Solar are actively contributing to the sustainable energy system of the future, in which solar and wind energy are continuously available through storage in car batteries.

About Koolen Industries
Koolen Industries’ mission is to make clean energy and clean mobility the new normal for everyone. Available, attainable and affordable. The company invests in cleantech companies and enables its group companies to perform and cocreate. The Koolen Industries team has a track record of building successful multinational organisations and is determined to do it again together with their group of cutting-edge cleantech companies.
For more information, visit: www.koolenindustries.com

About We Drive Solar
We Drive Solar is a leading supplier of smart charging solutions to support a 100% renewable energy system. The company has been active in bidirectional charging solutions for 10 years and supplies AC bidirectional chargers to international customers. We Drive Solar has achieved several international firsts in the field of bidirectional charging in collaboration with car manufacturers such as Renault. 
For more information, visit: https://wedrivesolar.com

In response to the massive growth of renewable energy in the Netherlands, Renault Group, We Drive Solar, MyWheels and the City of Utrecht have joined forces to launch Europe's first large-scale car-sharing service utilizing Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology.

• Renault Group will supply 500 Renault 5 E-Tech electric equipped with Mobilize's V2G technology.
• We Drive Solar will provide and operate bidirectional charging stations.
• MyWheels, the leading car-sharing platform in the Netherlands, will operate the fleet.

Boulogne Billancourt – November 27, 2024:
​Utrecht is taking a bold step towards more sustainable mobility with this groundbreaking collaboration. This initiative aims to facilitate the large-scale availability of electric shared mobility while offering an innovative way to balance the city’s electric grid through bi-directional charging technology. The Netherlands has become a world leader in the roll-out of solar and wind energy, causing challenges on the electricity grid. Utrecht is one of the most advanced European cities in using renewable energy, with already 35% of all rooftops covered with solar panels. 

​As part of the agreement signed yesterday at the Dutch embassy in Paris, the partners would deploy a fleet of 500 Renault electric vehicles in Utrecht, initially consisting of the iconic Renault 5. These vehicles, available through a car-sharing service operated by MyWheels, would utilize V2G bi-directional charging technology developed by Mobilize, Renault Group’s brand dedicated to new mobilities. This would mark the first time this technology is used to benefit public infrastructure. 500 bidirectional cars could provide 10% of the needed flexibility in Utrecht Region to balance solar- and wind energy for usage during peak-hours. 
The fleet could eventually feature the Renault 4 E-Tech electric, Megane E-Tech electric and Scenic E-Tech electric further demonstrating Renault Group’s commitment to sustainable mobility and innovation. Their compact design and advanced technology make them ideal for urban car-sharing programs in cities transitioning to more sustainable mobility solutions. The use of Mobilize’s V2G technology would represent a significant step forward, allowing We Drive Solar’s public infrastructure and services to contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy system on a large scale.
Renault’s vehicles equipped with Mobilize's V2G technology would enable users to charge their vehicles with clean energy and feed power back into the grid during high demand. This not only reduces overall electricity costs but also helps stabilize the grid and further integrate renewable energy sources. We Drive Solar, an international leader in smart charging, would provide its advanced bidirectional charging solutions. Starting in Utrecht, all new bidirectional public AC chargers would be rolled-out to support the V2G access toolkit provided by Mobilize. Renault’s vehicles would be operated by MyWheels, the largest car-sharing company in the Netherlands. With this initiative, MyWheels would set a new standard for car-sharing services by integrating mobility and energy solutions to address modern urban challenges.      
This collaboration is a testament to the power of public-private partnerships in driving the transition to more sustainable and efficient urban mobility solutions.