Renault to develop Franco-Dutch framework of solar charging solutions for EVs

Renault has signed a letter of intent to use the Dutch city of Utrecht as a testing ground for solar powered charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs).

The letter was signed by Renault, ElaadNL, LomboXnet and Utrecht City Council and included plans for Renault to supply a fleet of 150 Zoe models to the city as part of the solar smart-charge project.

ElaadNL would handle management of infrastructures and the smart-charge standard, and LomboXnet would take charge of installing the network of unique public charging terminals powered by a 44kW grid connection. Grid operator Stedin would be involved to balance supply and demand of the grid.

If the project is to go ahead, phase one will involve the installation of 1,000 solar charge points, which would be powered by 10,000 photovoltaic panels across the Utrecht region.

Phase two would involve the development of a vehicle-to-grid ecosystem, where a network of solar chargers would be capable of both charging EVs and of feeding energy stored in the batteries of parked cars onto the grid at times of peak demand.

Renault hopes that this could be the ‘starting point for a new system storing renewably sourced energy’.

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