VW, Elli Plan Q4 2026 V2G Market Launch in Germany, Part of Europe’s Massive V2G Revolution

Volkswagen and its energy and charging subsidiary Elli are preparing to launch a fully integrated Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) offering for private customers in Germany, with a market rollout planned for the fourth quarter of 2026.

The new service will allow Volkswagen electric vehicle owners to do more than simply charge their cars. By connecting EV batteries to the electricity grid, customers will be able to help balance energy demand, support renewable energy integration, and potentially earn compensation for making battery capacity available to the energy market.

Pre-registration for the program is expected to begin in June 2026, with expansion into additional European markets planned for the future. The offering will combine an electric vehicle, smart meter, bidirectional charger, dynamic electricity tariff, mobile app, and installation services into a single integrated energy ecosystem.

Volkswagen says Vehicle-to-Grid technology could significantly reduce mobility costs for EV owners. In favorable scenarios, annual savings and earnings could reach between €700 and €900. Initially, customers will receive compensation for providing battery capacity for energy trading, with payments based on the level of charging flexibility they choose.

According to Volkswagen, the long-term objective is to reduce charging costs to near zero while transforming electric vehicles into active participants in the energy system.

The program builds on Volkswagen’s existing bidirectional charging capabilities. Since 2023, all vehicles in the company’s ID. family have been equipped with hardware capable of supporting bidirectional charging. Upcoming ID. Software 6 updates will expand functionality to additional battery sizes and future high-volume models.

Vehicle-to-Grid technology enables EVs to serve as mobile energy storage units. Electricity generated from renewable sources can be stored in vehicle batteries and supplied back to the grid when demand increases. Volkswagen believes this approach can help improve grid stability while reducing the curtailment of renewable energy generation.

Elli will serve as the central platform connecting customers, vehicles, charging infrastructure, and energy markets. The company will manage electricity tariffs, digital controls, battery aggregation, and participation in wholesale energy markets through its dedicated energy trading operations.

Smart meters will play a key role in the program. Customers will be able to obtain installation through Elli’s metering partners, with installations expected to be completed within eight to ten weeks.

Volkswagen estimates that widespread adoption of Vehicle-to-Grid technology could generate substantial benefits beyond individual customers. Studies cited by the company suggest the technology could reduce European energy system costs by as much as €22 billion annually by 2040 while helping integrate larger amounts of renewable energy into the grid.

World EV Forum Market Intelligence: Europe’s V2G Revolution Spans Six OEMs and Five Markets

V2G is growing fast worldwide, an exciting technology that will revolutionize the grid, emergency power, and transportation forever for the better.

The World EV Forum’s thought-leading market intelligence division reported on how Europe’s V2G revolution spans six OEMs and five markets.

Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) is no longer a future concept. It is becoming a reality across Europe, where electric vehicles are evolving from simple transportation assets into active participants in the energy system.

For years, V2G technology was discussed in industry reports, pilot programs, and conference presentations. Today, it is moving into commercial deployment. Instead of only drawing electricity from the grid, EVs can now store energy and send it back when needed, helping stabilize power networks and support renewable energy integration.

Several major automakers are already advancing V2G initiatives across Europe. In Utrecht, 500 Renault E-Tech vehicles are supplying energy back to the local electricity network through the world’s first public bidirectional AC charging system, providing roughly 10 percent of the region’s grid flexibility.

Hyundai and Kia, working with Vattenfall, have launched one of Europe’s first commercial V2G offerings in the Netherlands. Polestar and Danish charging operator Clever have launched a similar groundbreaking pilot project in Denmark.

BMW and E.ON have introduced a customer-focused V2G solution in Germany, enabling drivers to earn revenue by feeding electricity back to the grid. Volvo is preparing for future commercialization with V2G-ready capabilities in the EX90.

The business case is compelling. Every hour a parked EV remains connected to a bidirectional charger creates an opportunity to generate value. For fleet operators, vehicles parked overnight or between shifts can become distributed energy resources. For consumers, V2G has the potential to reduce ownership costs and create new revenue streams.

The energy transition requires flexible storage capacity, and millions of EV batteries could help provide it. The question is no longer whether V2G works. The focus now is on how quickly the technology can scale and become a standard part of the electric mobility ecosystem.

EVinfo.net’s Take: World EV Forum Supports Accelerating the Global Transition to Electric Mobility

V2G isn’t the only great thing about the exciting global electric vehicle revolution. There is a whole lot more.

The electric vehicle industry has reached a pivotal moment. EV adoption continues to grow worldwide, battery technology is improving, charging infrastructure is expanding, and the convergence of clean energy, artificial intelligence, and autonomous technologies is reshaping transportation. To help coordinate these rapidly evolving sectors, the World EV Forum has launched as a new global platform focused on accelerating the transition to electric mobility.

The World EV Forum aims to bring together leaders from across the EV ecosystem, including automakers, energy companies, technology providers, policymakers, investors, infrastructure developers, and sustainability organizations. Rather than focusing on a single aspect of electrification, the Forum recognizes that transportation, energy, software, AI, and autonomy are increasingly interconnected and must be addressed as a unified system.

Founded by Ade Thomas, one of the world’s greatest EV influencers, the organization seeks to create a global framework for collaboration, communication, and partnership-building at a time when the EV industry is moving from early adoption toward large-scale deployment. The Forum is designed to help industry stakeholders share knowledge, support policy development, foster innovation, and create new opportunities for cooperation across markets and regions.

The World EV Forum is built on several established initiatives, including ElectricDrives, World EV Day, Women Leading EV, and the EV SUMMIT. Together, these programs create a platform that combines industry engagement, public awareness, leadership development, and international collaboration.

I’m proud to announce that I began working with the World EV Forum as a Communications Consultant in May 2026. I highly recommend this stellar organization.

As the global transportation sector continues its transition toward electrification, collaboration will be essential. Challenges related to charging infrastructure, grid capacity, battery supply chains, standards, and policy require coordinated solutions that extend beyond individual companies or countries. The World EV Forum has been created to help address these challenges while supporting the growth of a cleaner, smarter, and more connected mobility ecosystem.

The work of the World EV Forum reflects the growing recognition that the future of mobility will be shaped not only by vehicles, but by the broader systems that power, connect, and manage them. As electrification continues to expand worldwide, organizations that can bring diverse stakeholders together will play an increasingly important role in driving progress across the entire industry.