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The SCALE project is thrilled to announce its Final Conference, set to take place on 24 and 25 November 2025, in Utrecht, the Netherlands. This landmark event will mark the culmination of our efforts over the course of our project, showcasing key innovations, impacts, and lessons learned to boost smart charging and facilitate the mass deployment of electric vehicles.

Since 2022, our Consortium of 29 partners has been working hard to address the technical, organisational, economic, social, and policy-related aspects of smart charging and interoperable and V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) solutions for charging at home and in public, in businesses and in depots. At our Final Event in November, we are excited to bring together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from across sectors for a comprehensive discussion on the outcomes and pilot use cases of the SCALE project. We will explore how our work connects to other ongoing initiatives, its implications for European, national, and local policy agendas, and its role in shaping a sustainable energy future. Together, we will delve into how the flexibility of EV batteries can be harnessed to optimize renewable energy usage, stabilize the electricity grid, and reduce the need for new infrastructure, paving the way for a cleaner, more efficient energy ecosystem.

We will meet on Monday, 24 November, and the morning of Tuesday, 25 November, just prior to the 2025 POLIS Conference. This creates an exciting opportunity for stakeholders, particularly city representatives, to join us for this important milestone and explore the future of electromobility. Stay tuned for more details on the conference agenda, registration, and speakers. We look forward to welcoming you to Utrecht for an inspiring Final Event that celebrates the SCALE project’s achievements and charts the way forward for smart and bidirectional charging.

Save the date – we hope to see you there!

In February 2025, the SCALE project held the 3rd edition of its Bidirectional Cities event series, an initiative launched to support cities and regions in scaling up smart and bidirectional charging solutions.  The Bidirectional Cities events focused on tendering and deploying smart and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) EV charging infrastructure, as part of the project’s Joint Procurement Programme, specifically designed for those responsible for public charging (destination charging) in cities and regions, from local authorities to grid operators.  The 1st webinar kicked off in autumn, gathering ten cities from around Europe with varying levels of experience in deploying smart and V2G/V2X charging infrastructure. This 3rd event gathered over 50 participants including returning cities and newcomers. This session focused on public procurement: How can cities future-proof their charging infrastructure tenders, and what operational models can support the adoption of smart and V2G charging? 

City perspectives: Stockholm and Utrecht

Annika Bergendahl from the city of Stockholm opened the session with insights into the city’s policy frameworks enabling the deployment of charging infrastructure.  She provided participants with an overview of Stockholm’s ambitious climate targets and growing charging infrastructure and explained the local grid-informed procurement process with a strategic focus on low-capacity charging. The Swedish capital is rapidly scaling up its charging network, particularly to serve residents relying on on-street parking.  

Matthijs Kok, developer for electric transport and new energy at the City of Utrecht, presented Utrecht’s grid-conscious charging and operational models for V2G charging infrastructure based on the city’s decade-long experiences with smart charging. Utrecht is already facing serious grid congestion and expects a shortage of 250 MW by 2030. To address this, the city introduced dynamic capacity contracts with CPOs, reducing charging speeds during peak demand through a “traffic light” model. The city also detailed its operational models (from direct procurement to concessions and hybrid approaches), supporting the long-term integration of V2G capabilities. 

Bringing policy and procurement together

Aaron Fishbone, from ChargeUP Europe, presented the  European Commission’s Sustainable Transport Forum’s Guidelines for Tender Procedure for Deployment of public electric recharging infrastructure for cars and vans, which were recently published and include technical requirements and recommendations for future-proofing EV charging infrastructure by public authorities. Aaron highlighted that, according to the latest AFIR obligations, future EV chargers which are publicly accessible should be smart charging capable and digitally connected, which is the basic standards for bidirectional and V2G capabilities. He also provided recommendations for public authorities for tendering and keeping an eye for innovation. He emphasised the importance of aligning procurement processes with long-term decarbonisation goals and highlighted the critical need for cross-sector coordination between cities, CPOs, DSOs, and OEMs. 

To complement these guidelines, Bart van der Ree covered the SCALE Annex to the STF procurement recommendations, developed based on the insights from the SCALE Bidirectional cities events. This annex is covering the procurement of smart and bidirectional charging and options and requirements for including smart and bidirectional charging in public procurement.  

Key points of discussion 

Participants actively engaged in the discussion, posing concrete questions about smart charging, freight electrification, and public-private cooperation. The key points from the discussion are the following: 

• Dialogue is everything: Alignment between public authorities, network operators, and other key stakeholders is essential to ensure successful deployment of EV charging. Collaboration between local and regional authorities, CPOs, grid operators, and mobility providers is not optional – it is essential for building resilient, future-ready infrastructure. 

• Plan for scale, not just today’s needs: Stockholm and Utrecht’s experiences show the value of combining strategy, flexibility, and performance-based contracts to adapt to evolving charging demands. 

• Smart charging must be the default: With grid pressure rising, cities like Utrecht are already scaling back peak-time charging via dynamic capacity agreements — without sacrificing user access. 

• From guidelines to action: The upcoming STF Guidelines and the SCALE-developed annex offer cities practical tools to embed V2G-readiness in their procurement. 

SCALE will continue convening Bidirectional Cities events throughout 2025 to deepen knowledge exchange and support cities in deploying next generation charging solutions. The upcoming 4th Bidirectional Cities event is going to be held on 23 May 2025 (online) –  register here. 

Resources 

Available slides

Recording (will be uploaded soon)

See previous Bidirectional Cities Events and other SCALE webinars at: https://www.youtube.com/@scaleproject901

This autumn, SCALE launched a series of events focused on Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Implementation and Procurement, as part of a Joint Procurement Programme, specifically designed for those responsible for public charging infrastructure (destination charging) in cities and regions — from local authorities to grid operators. The first webinar kicked-off in October followed by the second event on 18 November, that gathered ten cities from around Europe with varying levels of experience in deploying smart and V2G/V2X charging infrastructure.   

Insights from the 2nd Bidirectional Cities Event

Cities future-proofing their EV charging infrastructure

The first city presentation was given on International EV Charging and V2G Initiatives from Sture Portvik (City of Oslo) illustrating the city’s anticipated future energy shortage and how solutions to deploy removable fast-charging sites and battery swapping stations, along with testing flexibility markets, could support ferries to address limited power availability in harbors, citing examples of combined charging systems. Three ongoing pilots were presented focusing on housing and mobility, along with SEEV4-City project with Amsterdam and Belgian cities. For Oslo, V2G is seen as a future necessity to optimise cost and grid usage, with participation in capacity markets deemed complementary to V2G strategies. 

The second presentation was given on Kadıköy’s Pilot on V2G for Disaster Relief by Mert Yaman (Kadıköy Municipality in Istanbul). As the district with the highest EV adoption rates in Istanbul, Kadıköy collaborated with Hyundai for bidirectional charging combats grid congestion while allowing earthquake resilience technology. However, challenges remain including the limited regulations in place for EV grid balancing and bidirectional chargers are not yet widespread. 

The third presentation was given on Current Status on Smart Charging and V2G by Rafael Waters (City of Uppsala) who cited grid congestion and unexpected lack of capacity for electrifying buses as a major challenge that helped the city to focus sustainability efforts with different options including biogas alongside hydrogen, noting that fully electrifying public transport not feasible due to current constraints. However, the municipality has an integrated research team that manages current smart charging, and they will be piloting V2G in 2026 in a commercial facility owned by the municipality, in a manner that prioritise user acceptance in future research efforts. 

The fourth presentation was given by Pekka Koponen (City of Helsinki) that spoke on the slow procurement processes for EV charging infrastructure deployment and no grid issues. The city owns the electric utility, and with 2030 climate goals, one-third of buses are electric. 10% of all parking needs to have EV charging capacity. Future piloting will be done through the ePowerMove project that will kick off in January to further develop V2G capabilities further with Virta. Existing challenges for V2G lie in the business model, exacerbated by current electricity prices. 

SCALE partners in the spotlight

The final presentation given by Tamas Toth-Balo (City of Budapest) on the Importance of V2G and Smart Charging and its role for managing available electric power, highlighted two SCALE use cases – V2B load managing and smart charging technologies, and municipal use case (7th District) with EMS hardware including rooftop PV, batteries and V2G-certified charging equipment. Remaining challenges include lack of supportive legislation for V2G and smart charging. While similar to PV systems in some respects, V2G has distinct use cases requiring tailored regulatory frameworks. Finally, key points were shared on the city of Utrecht as a “first bidirectional city,” by Gertjan Geurts (City of Utrecht) and Bart van der Ree (USI).

Linking research and policy via the Sustainable Transport Forum

The event concluded with an update on the proposed Annex to the Sustainable Transport Forum guidelines for public authorities to which cities can contribute though SCALE Joint Procurement Programme. After bilateral discussions, POLIS obtained the agreement from the EC to contribute to the updated revision of the STF Guidelines for tender procedure for deployment of public electric recharging infrastructure for cars and vans. 

The cities represented were invited to become involved in the Annex, by reviewing a draft and by contributing with a ‘best practice’ description.  

Key points of discussions with the participants

In an active discussion among panelists and participants, the following questions and action points were discussed: 

• Smart charging is a first good step to take since it does not require OEMs on board – but agreements with customers and energy suppliers, before moving to V2G. 
• Car sharing is a nice connection to V2G; city experience shows that often charging roll-out is separate to car fleet/car sharing; cities have a keen interest in knowing the lesson learned in shared e-car experience. 
• Important to align charging infrastructure deployment with sustainable mobility plans of the city- often many departments oversee various related aspects – cities have to ensure that ample exchange within the city administration to see that these visions are aligned and commercial operators. 

Resources

Recording of the webinar

 

Earlier this year, we launched a series of events focused on Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) Implementation and Procurement, as part of our Joint Procurement Programme, specifically designed for those responsible for public charging infrastructure (destination charging) in cities and regions — from local authorities to grid operators.  A first webinar was organised on October 3rd 2024, a second is scheduled for November 18, 2024, from 14:00 to 15:30. We are inviting cities, regions, and local grid operators to share their experiences with procurement and projects related to smart and bidirectional EV infrastructure. Register here.

Insights from the 1st Bidirectional Cities Webinar

The webinar opened with a short introduction to SCALE by coordinator Baerte de Brey (Elaad) before delving into the story of Utrecht as the first bidirectional city (presented by Gertjan Geurts, Bart van der Ree and Matthijs Kok).

Utrecht’s V2G Journey

The municipality of Utrecht’s V2G beginnings started small with an initial pilot neighbourhood, it was seen as a ‘bonus’ in a public tender for charging stations for V2G-ready charging points. In its subsequent tenders for public and semi-public charging stations, V2G specifications became a requirement, demonstrating a gradual scaling up enabled in close collaboration with ElaadNL, the smart charging research center from the collective Dutch grid operators. 

Utrecht is building a bidirectional network (V2G) with presently over 700 V2G charging points in the city, growing exponentially in the upcoming years. While the city is building a V2G network, smart charging (V1G) is already implemented on a large scale and expected to be rolled out to most of the 4000+ public charging points in 2025. The approach is in line with the Dutch national Smart charging for all 2022-2025 action plan.

Two findings shared by Utrecht are: 1) that paused charging during moments of grid congestion can significantly increase the effectiveness of smart charging, and 2) that V2G offers significant advantages on top of smart charging regarding the imminent electricity grid congestion management. The latter is a severe issue in Utrecht with its high penetrations of rooftop solar panels (33%), growing deployment of EV charging infrastructure and rapidly rising numbers of heat pumps. However, this is not only an issue in Utrecht. It risks becoming one in many other European cities and regions. 

Making connections with the STF Procurement Handbook

After the insights and experience from Utrecht, Edwin Bestebreurtje from FIER provided an overview of the Sustainable Transport Forum’s Procurement Handbook with Recommendations for public authorities on electric charging and recharging infrastructure for passenger cars and vans. The handbook was presented because the work developed under SCALE’s Joint Procurement Programme could support the definition of the specific requirements related to V2G in the STF’s handbook. This could take the shape, for example, of an annex with or future revisions to the handbook on the current status of V2G. The idea is to include specific examples/use cases from cities already involved in V2G activities, such as the experience of Utrecht and ElaadNL in tendering for future-proof, V2G ready charging infrastructure.

Closing Words

In the final presentation of the webinar, Baerte de Brey (ElaadNL) contextualised the grid congestion in supply and demand, giving an overview of requirements for generators, or harmonisation of standards when connecting to the grid, providing recommendations on hard- and software for operators.  At the end of 2023, ACER submitted to the European Commission proposed amendments to the network code on requirements for grid connection of generators which establishes common standards that generators must respect to connect to the grid. 

Key points of discussions with the participants

In an active discussion among panelists and participants, the following questions and action points were discussed: 

• Existence of charger manufacturers that can supply AC V2G chargers today
• How SCALE has engaged with vehicle manufacturers to deploy ISO15118-20 on their vehicles, and to enable them to function as part of a fully open V2G ecosystem 
• The legislative needs for cities and regions to tender V2G charging 
• How would a general roadmap for V2G adoption look like 
• What are the advantages of AC and DC V2G charging and will they continue to co-exist in the market? 
• Harmonization of technologies, policies and protocols and the need to use/require open standards so that the system becomes interoperable, and lock-ins are avoided.
• The new IEA Task 53 which could be approached for collaboration 
• Interoperability between EV chargers and IS15118-20 cars now emerging on the market. Several partners in SCALE are testing that interoperability. 
• The steps being made by SCALE to streamline cooperation between local authorities and DSOs for the integrated planning/deployment of charging infrastructure and the power system. 

Resources

The bidirectional city of Utrecht​: Our story: Why, How, What, the Results and the Future ​ 

• Gertjan Geurts​, Project leader V2G/V2X/Smart Charging, City of Utrecht 
• Bart van der Ree​, Energy transition – consultant and project leader, City of Utrecht 
• Matthijs Kok, ​Developer E-mobility and New Energy, City of Utrecht 

Joint procurement program and the Sustainable Transport Forum Handbook  

Edwin Bestebreurtje, Partner, FIER 

European ecosystem for V2G 

Baerte de Brey, Chief International Officer, ElaadNL 

Recording of the webinar

 

SCALE launches an e-course for public authorities on smart charging

SCALE is launching a three-module e-course designed specifically for public authorities. This comprehensive course coordinated by Rupprecht Consult will equip participants with a solid understanding of the essential concepts, cutting-edge technologies, and strategic approaches needed to implement efficient and sustainable smart charging infrastructure in cities and regions. 

Starting strong with a kickoff webinar 

In the kick-off webinar will start with a brief introduction of our project, followed by an introduction to the e-course and its relevance for public authorities in building knowledge on smart charging. Next, we will provide an overview of the course content and its various units, along with detailed instructions on how to get the most out of the course and meet the certification requirements by participating in discussion forums and completing short assignments. Lastly, we will offer a step-by-step registration guide for those who have not yet registered. 

The e-course kick-off webinar is on 12 November (12:30 to 13:30). Register now.

You can also register to the e-course now!

E-Course Fundamentals

What will you learn from the course? 

The e-course is designed for public authorities working on public charging infrastructure. It will cover:  

• The basics of smart charging and V2G and V2X concepts and their benefits for cities and municipalities 
• The role of EV users in the roll-out of future proofed charging infrastructure, which users rely on public charging, how they can help cities roll-out public charging, and other behavioural factors. 
• The EU policy landscape on EVs, smart charging and V2G and what AFIR means to publicly accessible smart charging infrastructure  
• A breakdown of the value chain, related stakeholders and the services that are in play within smart charging and V2G ecosystem 
• New energy and mobility services at a glance from different stakeholders’ point of view 
• Types of smart charging and V2G infrastructure and their main differences and advantages. 
• The link between shared mobility and V2G: opportunities, role of cities and best practices 
• Approaches to planning and designing smart charging infrastructure and asses charging infrastructure needs 
• Procurements models of charging infrastructure and future-proofing, charging location planning and joint procurement opportunities. 
• Funding charging infrastructure such as ownership, budget planning and funding channels 

Photo: EVs charging in Utrecht (2019), source: Shutterstock, 1452754487

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The overall context of the V2X Alliance

According to its 2030 climate and energy framework, the European Union aims to achieve at least 40% cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 1990 levels, at least a 32% share of renewable energy, and at least a 32.5% improvement in energy efficiency. Meanwhile, as part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission seeks to raise the 2030 target to 50-55% cuts in emissions and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

The foundation of the European V2X Alliance

In this era where sustainable energy transitions are crucial, Horizon Europe initiatives delved into smart charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), aspiring to revolutionise the way we harness renewable energy. One of these initiatives, SCALE (Smart Charging Alignment for Europe), is now establishing the European V2X Alliance, an alliance that promises to spearhead the advancement and implementation of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies.

The inception of the European V2X Alliance

The establishment of the V2X Alliance is a paramount component of SCALE’s approach to fostering collaboration and enhancing stakeholder engagement. The V2X Alliance is supported by the V2X cluster Horizon Europe projects EV4EU, DriVe2X, FLOW Project and XL-CONNECT. The European V2X Alliance is designed to encompass a multi-stakeholder group, with the ambition the advancement and implementation of Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technologies. This alliance will capitalise on capacity-building activities, best practice replication, and the development of synergy-enhancing events.

Goals and Objectives of the European V2X Alliance

The V2X Alliance has several core objectives that align with the broader goals of the SCALE project:

1. Facilitating Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: by bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders from different value chains, the alliance seeks to foster synergies and improve collaboration across the EV ecosystem.
2. Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing: through training courses, webinars, conferences, and publications, the alliance will enhance stakeholders’ understanding and capabilities in smart and bi-directional charging.
3. Standardisation and Policy Advocacy: the alliance aims to create a standardised framework for charging infrastructure, legal and technical integration of V2X technologies, as well as spatial integration strategies.
4. Post-Project Implementation: ensuring the legacy of SCALE’s results by promoting ongoing deployment and exploitation of its findings after the project’s end.

Engaging diverse stakeholders

To achieve its ambitious goals, the V2X Alliance will cater various target groups:

• Citizens and End-Users: EV drivers are central to the success of smart charging and V2X technologies. Engagement activities including surveys, workshops, and co-design initiatives will ensure their active participation and contribution to the system design.
• Industry Players: The involvement of vehicle manufacturers, grid operators, CPOs, and energy suppliers is crucial. These stakeholders will benefit from joint procurement strategies, participation in capacity-building exercises, and access to SCALE’s insights and deliverables.
• Local and Regional Authorities: Policymakers and urban planners will have the chance to integrate SCALE’s smart charging solutions into their climate action plans, guided by the project’s validated concepts and strategic frameworks.
• Academia and Research Institutions: Researchers will have access to open science resources, enabling them to exploit SCALE’s data and findings while adhering to GDPR and confidentiality regulations.

What to expect

The European V2X Alliance, in its final form, will consist of at least 50 external key actors and will be built through existing partnerships, Innovation Clusters, EU projects, as well as networks with cities, regions, and operators. The representatives of each organisation that chooses to compose the V2X Alliance can expect their future presence and participation in the alliance’s activities (both virtually and in-person). This includes the possibility to participate in online and physical meetings, use-case tests in selected pilot locations, and knowledge-exchange activities (webinars and e-courses).

Participation in the alliance is voluntary, but its members will be strongly encouraged to sign an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding). After having expressed their interest, members of the alliance can join the group without any legal procedure and are not in any way bound by any legal obligations. Similarly, members may choose to quit the alliance without any legal procedures required. Nevertheless, upon accepting to participate in the alliance, members are expected to comply with basic antitrust and GDPR rules. Finally, participation in the European V2X Alliance does not entail any kind of remuneration or monetary compensation for its participating members.

The path forward

The establishment of the European V2X Alliance marks a milestone in the journey to advance smart charging and V2X technologies. By fostering collaboration across sectors, building capacity, and advocating for standardisation, the alliance is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the sustainable energy landscape of Europe. As we look forward to the future, the legacy of SCALE’s efforts will live on through the enduring impact of the V2X Alliance. Together, we can harness the flexibility of EV batteries to create a resilient and sustainable energy system for all.

How to join

Interested members can express their interest in joining the European V2X Alliance by contacting the following SCALE partners:

• Baerte de Brey (ElaadNL) – SCALE’s Project Coordinator ElaadNL – baerte.de.brey@elaad.nl
• Pedro Gomes (POLIS Network) – SCALE’s Communication, Dissemination, and Exploitation Manager – pgomes@polisnetwork.eu

About SCALE

SCALE explores, tests, and validates various smart charging and V2X ecosystems, with the ultimate goal of creating a resilient and user-centric energy system. The project tests and validates a variety of smart charging and V2X solutions and services in 13 use cases in real-life demonstrations in 7 European contexts: Oslo (NO), Utrecht (NL), Eindhoven (NL), Toulouse (FR), Greater Munich Area (GER), Budapest/Debrecen (HU) and Gothenburg (SE). The initiatives within these cities are expected to generate invaluable insights, best practices, and lessons learned, benefiting stakeholders across Europe and shaping a blueprint for future implementations.

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Press Release available in PDF format:

Researchers from Utrecht University and TU Delft have shown that adding charging pauses doubles the effectiveness of smart charging.

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The German Advisory Board of the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure published recommendations on bidirectional charging.

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