Executive Summary

• CTEK has announced the results of a ‘groundbreaking’ vehicle to grid (V2G) AC bidirectional charging trial in which 11 chargepoints were installed in three Gothenburg locations
• The project, CTEK says, has ‘successfully validated AC V2G in public charging scenarios’ and has shown its CC3 chargepoint is ‘proven and ready for this exciting future for EVs and the energy grid’
• CTEK expects to be ready ‘well before’ when V2G capability will be mandatory in the EU for new public AC chargepoints from 2027

Battery handling and charging solutions provider CTEK has announced the results of a successful electric vehicle (EV) trial of vehicle to grid (V2G) AC bidirectional charging using Volvo EVs.

The study saw 11 Chargestorm Connected 3 (CC3) chargepoints installed at three locations in Gothenburg, as part of the Public EV Power Pilots (PEPP) study into the practical use of V2G technology, driver expectations and the benefits.

Volvo employees were appointed to take part as drivers with specially modified test and production cars, plugging in when parked at one of the test site car parks equipped with the CC3 chargepoints. The drivers did not have to initiate or direct V2G activity, with automatic communications between the CC3, Volvo’s backend and the energy provider ensuring this.

The software in the test cars and the CC3 chargepoints were modified for the trial owing to the OCPP and ISO 15118 existing communication standards not being ready for AC V2G at the time.

CTEK says the project has ‘successfully validated AC V2G in public charging scenarios’ and has shown its CC3 chargepoint is ‘proven and ready for this exciting future for EVs and the energy grid.’

“This fascinating research has proven in the field that the CC3 chargepoint will work in a V2G future where the batteries of EVs can be used to help grid stability and electricity affordability,” said Stefan Gabrielsson, product business owner at CTEK.

“It means we are ready well before when V2G capability will be mandatory in the EU for new public AC chargepoints from 2027, according to the EU directive AFIR,” Gabrielsson added.

AFIR (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation) is an EU ‘non-negotiable mandate’ to make EV charging as easy as possible and as widely available as refuelling, through fewer ‘charging deserts’, less payment friction, and clearer pricing and status information. While at the early stages, 2027 is where requirements tighten further and 2030 is the maturity target for heavy-duty readiness.

At the start of this year, Gabrielsson noted that 2026 was a ‘year of great opportunities’ for electric vehicles, with CTEK predicting ‘significant’ evolutions in EV charging, particularly with 22kW AC charging capability.

“22kW AC enables quicker charging, enabling faster turnaround and increased utilisation for charging providers but with the much cheaper installation and hardware costs of AC compared to DC,” said Gabrielsson.

You can read the full case study on the CTEK website.

Picture credit: CTEK