Skip to main content

The Dutch revolution in smart EV charging

By turning itself into one huge Living Lab for Smart Charging of electric vehicles, the Netherlands aims to become the international frontrunner for smart charging EVs, using them to store peak solar and wind power production. Already 325 municipalities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, have joined the Dutch Living Lab Smart Charging project, representing 80 per cent of all public charging stations. It is also supported by the Dutch government and has been joined by some The New Motion
October 18, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
By turning itself into one huge Living Lab for Smart Charging of electric vehicles, the Netherlands aims to become the international frontrunner for smart charging EVs, using them to store peak solar and wind power production. Already 325 municipalities, including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, have joined the Dutch Living Lab Smart Charging project, representing 80 per cent of all public charging stations. It is also supported by the Dutch government and has been joined by some The New Motion and EV-Box EV charging companies.

The Living Lab Smart Charging is an open platform where small and large companies, universities, local and regional governments and grid operators cooperate on a three step program.

Step 1 is to make as many charging stations as possible ready for Smart Charging. An upgrade operation is now taking place across the country to ensure existing charging stations will be technically able to facilitate smart charging. All new stations are already smart charging ready.

Step 2 uses those stations for smart charging research and testing, such as the app by Jedlix which allows users to earn money by using technology to charge a car in the middle of the night when the wind is still producing power but there is little demand for the power. In Utrecht, Renault is testing 'vehicle to grid' charging, using an electric car with solar panels as storage to put power back into the grid when the sun goes down.

Step 3 puts all the innovation, tests and research findings into international standards, with the ultimate goal of all electric cars driving on solar and wind power.

Related Content

  • Trial results change perceptions of EVs
    November 26, 2012
    The results of two one-year electric vehicle (EV) trials carried out in the Netherlands and Sweden were presented at the European Electric Vehicle Congress (EEVC) 2012. All aspects of EVs were taken into account during these trials; results show that after an EV is integrated in people’s daily use, most preconceptions are proved wrong.
  • Market for industrial and commercial electric vehicles market to grow 4.5 times
    December 9, 2016
    According to a new report by IDTechEx Research, Industrial and Commercial Electric Vehicles on Land 2017-2027, today’s industrial and commercial sector represents 60 per cent of the value of the whole electric vehicle market, and it is set to grow 4.5 times in the next decade. Industrial electric vehicles make industry more efficient and commercial electric vehicles reduce congestion. Both of them greatly reduce pollution and align closely with government objectives concerning industry and the environment,
  • Smart roads planned for the Netherlands
    November 6, 2012
    The Dutch are planning a new generation of smart roads that glow in the dark, to be phased in next year. Developed by Studio Roosegaarde and infrastructure management group Heijmans, the Smart Highway by won Best Future Concept at the Dutch Design Awards, and features road markings painted with a luminescent powder that charges up in sunlight and shines through the night. The new surfaces also include markings that become visible at certain temperatures, such as a snowflake symbol that appears in freezing
  • The stage is set for an unforgettable experience
    April 16, 2024
    Welcome to Intertraffic Amsterdam 2024 - a showcase of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration. From groundbreaking technologies to visionary ideas, this event sets the stage for a future where mobility is not just smart, safe, and sustainable — but transformative. It’s showtime, and the stage is set for an unforgettable experience.