Eindhoven follows Utrecht in project for electric shared cars

Eindhoven follows Utrecht with a pilot project involving so-called bidirectional electric shared cars. In collaboration with car-sharing provider MyWheels, smart charging stations are being installed at 50 locations throughout the city. These can charge electric shared cars and feed power back into the grid.

Bidirectional shared cars are unique in that they can feed energy back into the grid. In this way, they help to balance the energy grid and reduce grid congestion and charging costs. This not only makes shared mobility more attractive and affordable, but also supports the transition to a more stable and sustainable energy grid. In addition, these shared cars promote less car ownership, resulting in more efficient use of public space and cleaner air in the city.

More liveable and sustainable

Alderman Robert Strijk (Mobility) explains: “With this pilot, we are focusing on smart technology that contributes to both reliable shared mobility and a stable energy grid. Bidirectional shared cars help us to make the city more liveable and sustainable, which is exactly what we stand for in Eindhoven.”

By the end of 2025, the first bidirectional charging stations and electric shared cars from MyWheels will be operational in Eindhoven, located at fixed car-sharing locations. This week, residents living near the first 14 locations will be informed that bidirectional charging stations with shared electric cars will be installed in their neighborhood.

In Utrecht, the initiative was directly linked to the cost of electricity. At the start, the municipality said that this initiative “not only supports Utrecht's sustainability goals, but also delivers economic benefits. The city can reduce electricity costs and increase the resilience of the electricity grid by allowing vehicles to feed power back into the grid during periods of high demand.”