Germany’s RheinEnergie enters vehicle to grid partnership

Cologne-based energy service provider RheinEnergie has partnered with Munich-headquartered The Mobility House in efforts to couple the energy and e-mobility sectors through vehicle to grid technology.

The partnership between RheinEnergie, the fifth largest energy utility company in Germany, and the bidirectional charging-focused The Mobility House, will tap into vehicle to grid (V2G) tech through the intelligent integration of electric vehicle batteries into the grid.

“This strategic alliance is an important building block for us, especially for our customers. With The Mobility House by our side, we gain expertise and significantly expand our scope, particularly in digital and interconnected services related to real estate and mobility,” said Andreas Feicht, chairman of the board of RheinEnergie, in a release.

The partnership also involves an investment from RheinEnergy into The Mobility House of an undisclosed amount.

“We are pleased to welcome RheinEnergie as an investor and partner. Together, we can accelerate the realization of our vision of ‘zero zero’, charging electric cars for free and emission-free, making it more accessible to a wider audience,” added Thomas Raffeiner, CEO of The Mobility House.

According to The Mobility House, the potential that opens up for RheinEnergie through the cooperation will also be demonstrated in the future through a special offer for electric vehicles.

This year, RheinEnergie will offer an electricity tariff for the private sector that can reduce charging costs by a three-digit amount annually. The Mobility House will provide the technological components, while RheinEnergie will remain the trusted energy supplier and direct contractual partner.

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V2G technology is increasingly recognised as a key element for the rapid and cost-effective implementation of a renewable energy system and the global energy transition.

According to The Mobility House, their tech portfolio focuses on transforming both mobile and stationary electric vehicle batteries into ‘swarm storage’ or flexibility potentials. This promotes the expansion and integration of renewable energies while reducing CO2 emissions.

As of a January 2024 release, The Mobility House markets approximately 100MWh, or 4,500 stationary 1st- and 2nd-life vehicle batteries in Germany, France and the Netherlands. These batteries are utilised in energy and power markets as well as in various products.

The Mobility House also globally manages more than 1,600 charging locations intelligently through the charging and energy management system ChargePilot.

In 2024, the company, in collaboration with Mobilize, a brand of the Renault Group, will also launch the first commercial V2G offering in the European market.

Additionally, earlier this year in January, it was announced that Dr Herbert Diess – former CEO of Volkswagen Group and “visionary in the field of emobility” – joined The Mobility House as the new executive chairman of the board.

Diess takes over the role from Dr Alexander Landia, who has been holding the position since 2017 as a recognised energy market expert.