Here’s how to share a Renault 5 and its energy

The city of Utrecht has launched the first large-scale V2G car-sharing service in Europe with a fleet of Renault 5 vehicles.

In collaboration with Renault, the city of Utrecht, located in the Netherlands approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam, has inaugurated the first large-scale car-sharing service integrating Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology in Europe. Named Utrecht Energized, this project results from a partnership between Renault Group, MyWheels, We Drive Solar, and the local municipality. It marks an important step in the transition towards sustainable mobility and smarter energy management.

The V2G technology allows electric vehicles not only to recharge but also to supply electricity back to the grid during peak demand periods. This bidirectional operation helps balance an increasingly intermittent electricity network powered by sources like solar and wind. In Utrecht, where 35% of rooftops are equipped with solar panels, this approach fits seamlessly into an environment already focused on renewable energy.

At the Service of the Community

The deployed fleet initially includes 50 Renault 5 E-Tech electric vehicles, which will be followed by other models such as the Renault 4, Megane, and Scenic E-Tech. In total, 500 vehicles equipped with Mobilize V2G technology will be made available by MyWheels, a major player in car-sharing in the Netherlands. These cars will use the bidirectional charging stations installed by We Drive Solar on the public network.

This model combining car-sharing and support for the energy grid represents a highly promising avenue for decarbonization. It allows for shared vehicle use while enhancing the flexibility of the electrical system, thus reducing the need for fossil fuel production during consumption peaks. The integration of V2G technology into daily usage illustrates the growing role that electric vehicles can play in the energy transition.

Renault Group is calling today for the establishment of a favorable regulatory framework to accelerate the adoption of V2G in Europe. The company emphasizes the importance of harmonizing tax policies, network access tariffs, and certification procedures to enable this technology to scale up effectively.

ALSO READ: Car-sharing boosted by the Paris 2024 Olympics