Renault is to equip its future EVs with vehicle-to-grid technology, cutting charging costs by around half while supporting the grid.

The Renault 5 will be the brand’s first car to come with a bidirectional onboard charger

The new service will debut first on the forthcoming Renault 5 supermini due next year, which will be the first in a long series of cars to come equipped with the brand-new bidirectional charger.

When combined with a Powerbox bidirectional charging station from Mobilize – Renault Group’s mobility specialist – plus the Mobilize V2G service and a V2G tariff from energy partner, The Mobilize House, drivers will be able to feed power from the vehicle back into their home and sell power back to the grid. This will lower their charging costs and support grid balancing.

Drivers can then charge their cars when demand is low and supply is therefore cheaper, typically overnight. The new service will also make it easier to integrate renewable energies into the energy mix.

“Thanks to Mobilize V2G, cars become an energy reserve. All drivers have to do is regularly connect their vehicle to the Powerbox to optimise their electricity bill and cut carbon from their mobility. On average, the cost of charging is cut by half. That is how Mobilize’s mobility solutions are more sustainable and affordable,” said Corinne Frasson, director of energy services at Mobilize.

Renault 5 drivers will save on charging and reduce their overall electricity bill by selling electricity back to the power grid

The V2G setup includes a smartphone app that will be used to programme bidirectional charging; drivers just set the time when the vehicle is going to be used next and the desired battery level.

As well as “reinjecting” electricity into the power grid, Renault’s bidirectional charger can be used to power electrical appliances directly from the car, using the V2L or ‘vehicle-to-load’ function. The forthcoming Renault 5 will be able to provide the same energy output as a 220V power outlet, powering items such as a vacuum cleaner.

The Mobilize V2G service will be available from the launch of Renault 5 in France and Germany in 2024, followed by the UK in 2025. It will then roll out to future Renault EVs.