Four Volvo electric vehicles have successfully returned electricity to the local power grid in Gothenburg, Sweden, as part of a pioneering pilot project that examined vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities.
The initiative, which kicked off in November 2023 through a collaboration between Volvo Cars and local energy firm Göteborg Energi, sought to illustrate how electric vehicles can enhance grid stability and contribute to a more resilient energy infrastructure.
The joint statement released by the companies revealed that during two separate events in March, the four electric vehicles – including at least one EX40 – provided a total of 111 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy back to the grid. Utilising accessible and cost-effective AC wallboxes, the project aimed to evaluate both the technical feasibility of V2G technology and its potential implications for energy systems increasingly reliant on decentralised resources.
Therese Caesar, project lead at Göteborg Energi’s Effekthandel Väst, expressed the project’s significance, stating, “This is an important step where we are at the forefront globally in showing that the technology works all the way.” She highlighted the potential economic benefits, indicating that the ability to sell power locally could help address capacity shortages within the electricity grid, while also linking to national support and balancing service markets.
The pilot’s objectives extended beyond simply validating the technical aspects of V2G technology; it sought to establish the role of electric vehicles in the broader context of a future energy system reliant on renewable energy sources. The capability for electric vehicles to inject energy back into the grid is identified as a critical strategy for balancing the intermittent nature of renewable power generation.
Lars Edström, CEO of Göteborg Energi Elnät, noted the potential impact of V2G technology at the outset of the project, suggesting that such solutions could ultimately fulfil up to 20 per cent of the electricity grid’s flexibility requirements. “The potential is very large,” he commented, acknowledging the transformative possibilities of this technology.
Although the specific applications of the pilot’s findings remain to be clarified, the project serves as a validation of V2G technology’s value proposition for grid operators. Furthermore, Volvo Cars is actively pursuing opportunities within the energy services domain; in 2023, they established Volvo Cars Energy Solutions as a dedicated unit aimed at creating energy-related products and services, including home charging and grid integration solutions.
This pilot project, while small, is important and represents a collaboration at the intersection of automotive innovation and energy sustainability.
