The growing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is having a profound effect on local electricity networks. Long seen as mere energy consumers, EVs are now at the heart of solutions capable of enhancing the flexibility and resilience of the electricity system. Smart charging, storage and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) are shaping a new paradigm: that of integrated electric mobility, capable not only of adapting to the grid, but also of actively supporting it.
Local networks under pressure
The massive increase in the number of electric vehicles poses an unprecedented challenge for distribution networks, particularly at local level. Unlike major electricity transmission infrastructures, low-voltage networks were never designed to absorb simultaneous power calls concentrated over time. EVs are mostly recharged at the end of the day, when households return home, combining heating, lighting and traditional domestic uses.
In some residential areas, this simultaneity can lead to a near doubling of the power demand, causing local congestion and even the risk of overloading. In Europe, and France in particular, these tensions are exacerbated by ageing infrastructure. Yes, almost 40% of distribution lines are over forty years old. In addition, there are major regional disparities, between well-connected areas and more fragile territories, particularly on the outskirts of major conurbations.
Intermittency of renewables and seasonal peaks
The difficulties are not limited simply to vehicle recharging. They are part of a wider energy context, marked by the rise of intermittent renewable energies. Solar and wind power generation, by their very nature variable, can create significant mismatches between supply and demand, particularly in winter, when consumption rises and solar power generation falls.
Today, to maintain the balance of the system, grid operators still largely resort to costly and less than optimal solutions: electricity imports, activation of peak power plants or, in extreme cases, targeted load shedding. Without new forms of flexibility, the massive electrification of mobility could mean heavy investment in network reinforcement, with costs passed on to users.
Smart charging, the first intelligent building block
Faced with these multiple constraints, smart charging appears to be a pragmatic and rapidly deployable solution. The principle is simple: adapt the charging of electric vehicles according to the state of the network, pricing signals and the availability of electricity, without impairing the user experience. In practical terms, the vehicle remains plugged in, but the power and time of recharging are modulated automatically. This controlled recharging makes it possible to smooth out demand, by shifting charging to off-peak hours or periods of high renewable production. It can be based on dynamic tariffs, which give drivers a financial incentive to recharge at the ‘right’ time, or on automated mechanisms managed by charging operators and distribution network operators (DSOs).
Beyond individual optimisation, smart charging opens the way to much more detailed management of local networks. Thanks to real-time data, DSOs gain greater visibility of electricity flows. This enables them to anticipate congestion and control recharging at the level of a district, a company car park or a residential complex. Coupled with microgrids, integrating local production and storage, smart charging is clearly becoming a key tool in the energy transition. It reduces the need for costly grid extensions and encourages a decentralised, more resilient approach. For local authorities and businesses alike, it’s also a way of controlling costs while speeding up the integration of electric vehicles at the same time.
V2G: when cars become batteries
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) is taking things a step further by transforming electric vehicles into genuine energy assets. A car is parked around 95% of the time. Its battery therefore represents considerable storage potential. V2G is based on bi-directional charging. Vehicles charge up when electricity is abundant and cheap, particularly during peaks in solar or wind production, and then return some of this energy to the grid during periods of high demand. On a European scale, this virtual storage could represent up to 114 TWh by 2030, or around 4% of the continent’s electricity consumption.
For the electricity system, it offers invaluable flexibility, capable of stabilising frequency and reducing the need for carbon-based peak generation. Studies estimate that this flexibility could save up to €4 billion a year in network investment. For EV users, the model is just as attractive by making their batteries available to the grid. They become « prosumers », both consumers and producers of energy. Experiments are also showing that these controlled cycles can help to extend battery life, by avoiding repeated rapid charging.
Concrete pilot projects in France and Europe
In France, the Flexitanie project, launched in the Occitanie region, is a benchmark. Since 2020, EDF and its subsidiary DREEV have been aggregating hundreds of electric vehicles, representing more than 8 MW of virtual storage. The aim is to integrate local renewable energies while relieving the grid during peaks in consumption. In Northern Europe, the operator Virta is testing V2G charging points in Helsinki, capable of supplying conventional loads from EV batteries. This approach is particularly relevant in countries with high winter peaks. In France, Enedis is also supporting the roll-out of smart charging, while EDF is stepping up its partnerships with manufacturers and local authorities to design flexible electric neighbourhoods.
Despite these advances, scaling up remains dependent on changes to the regulatory frameworks. Flexibility markets, capacity tariffs and recognition of the role of mobile batteries still need to be harmonised at European level. Smart grid experiments are currently being used as laboratories to test these new economic and technical models. The standardisation of bi-directional charging points, the interoperability of systems and cyber security are, of course, also major challenges. But the momentum is there, driven by grid operators, energy suppliers and mobility players alike.
Towards more resilient local networks by 2030
By 2030, V2G could theoretically power the equivalent of 30 million European homes, profoundly transforming the role of local networks. Electric mobility would no longer be seen as a constraint, but as a strategic opportunity to accelerate the energy transition. One thing is clear: the future of the electric vehicle also depends on its ability to integrate intelligently into the energy system. Smart charging and V2G embody this new stage, where the car becomes an active link in a network that is more flexible, more sober and more resilient.
Sources: edf.fr – edsoforsmartgrids.eu – enedis.fr – izi-by-edf.fr
