German Parliament removes key barrier to bidirectional charging: Vehicle-to-Grid becomes possible

On 13 November 2025, the German Parliament adopted a decisive amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG). Starting in 2026, bidirectional charging – and thus Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) – will become economically viable in Germany for the first time. This enables the country to unlock the previously unused storage potential of more than 1.65 million electric vehicles – a milestone for flexibility, grid stability and the integration of renewable energy sources.

The reform removes the key barrier to V2G: the double charging of grid fees for electricity fed back into the grid. In the future, electricity fed in from EV batteries will be treated like storage electricity. At the same time, the Federal Network Agency’s MiSpeL framework (effective 1 April 2026) will provide the technical foundation for V2G without the need for a second meter or complex processes. Together, these measures pave the way for broad market adoption.

Fair grid fees as the foundation for Vehicle-to-Grid

Until now, EV owners had to pay grid fees twice – once when charging their vehicles and a second time when refilling the battery after feeding electricity back into the grid for system support. In other words: those who helped stabilise the grid were financially penalised. This double burden has now finally been removed.

Previously, households paid grid fees when charging their EV battery, as with any electricity consumption. If the vehicle later fed electricity back into the grid, this feed-in was not charged again – but recharging the battery afterwards did incur grid fees once more. This meant users were effectively charged twice for the same storage cycle, even though the interim feed-in supported the grid. This made V2G economically unattractive.

The EnWG amendment now ends this disadvantage. Electricity fed back from EV batteries will be treated like electricity from storage assets – just like pumped-storage or stationary large-scale batteries, which do not pay grid fees for stored energy. This creates the first fair and economically viable framework for V2G and a clear incentive to provide EV flexibility to the energy system.

Societal benefits: EVs as decentralised storage assets

The reform transforms electric vehicles from mere consumers into active contributors to the energy transition. EVs can absorb surplus renewable electricity and release it when needed – decentralised, rapidly available and close to consumers.

Germany thereby unlocks a decentralised storage potential of around 3.3 to 5.0 GWh. With a realistic plug-in rate of 20–30 %, this corresponds to 1.0 to 1.5 GW of flexible power – comparable to a large power plant, distributed across millions of vehicles. And this at an electrification rate of just around 3 %.

Implementation timeline

The grid-fee relief will take effect on 1 January 2026.
On 1 April 2026, the MiSpeL process rules will follow, simplifying V2G technically and regulatorily.

Grid operators will then need around 6 to 12 months to adjust their systems – larger operators expect 6–9 months, smaller ones up to 12. As a result, V2G will gradually enter the market from 2026 onward.

Remaining challenges

Despite this historic step, a structural obstacle remains: Germany’s slow smart-meter rollout. Currently, only around 3 % of households and relevant connection points are equipped with an intelligent metering system – far behind countries such as the Netherlands, France, Sweden or Denmark, many of which have reached near-universal coverage. A faster rollout is essential for scalable V2G deployment.

In addition, the removal of the electricity tax burden currently applies only to households with their own photovoltaic systems. Users without PV systems still face this cost for the time being. Although the amount involved is small – around 2 cents per kilowatt-hour, insufficient to undermine the business case – full equal treatment would be desirable. The Finance Committee has recommended that the government examine further simplifications to the electricity tax framework for V2G.

Nonetheless, the key regulatory barrier – the double charging of grid fees – has now been removed. This clears the way for the market ramp-up for the first time.

What this means for The Mobility House

The Mobility House has been working on the development and integration of V2G for more than a decade – including Germany’s first real V2G pilot back in 2015. The company’s business unit, The Mobility House Energy, focuses on the technological advancement and commercialisation of these solutions. With the EnWG amendment, The Mobility House can now offer its V2G services commercially in Germany for the first time.

Partnership with Mercedes-Benz

Together with Mercedes-Benz, The Mobility House Energy has launched a Europe-wide partnership for smart and bidirectional charging. The partnership includes an end-to-end solution enabling Mercedes-Benz vehicles to become V2G-capable from 2026. The goal is direct integration of vehicles into the energy system – enabling greater grid flexibility, more efficient use of renewable energy and financial benefits for customers.

Experience from France with Renault & Mobilize

In France, Renault, Mobilize and The Mobility House Energy have been successfully implementing V2G commercially since 2024. Customers can not only charge using bidirectional solutions but also feed electricity back into the grid – significantly reducing their annual energy costs. These real-world applications show that V2G is technically mature and market-ready. Germany’s new regulatory framework will now allow these successes to be transferred.