EV bidirectional charging has been on the verge of a breakthrough for some time now, but is currently still limited to fixed bundles (EV + charging point + supplier). It’s good to see that the UK is focusing on scaling up interoperable V2X […]

"Deutschland und Frankreich wollen gemeinsam das Verbrenner-Aus lockern. Die Bundesregierung will damit Arbeitsplätze sichern. Doch wer einer Industrie mehr Zeit verschafft, muss auch eine Idee für ihre Zukunft haben. Was der Abschied von der Steinkohle darüber lehrt." […]

Electrification shouldn’t go faster than what their car makers can handle. As a result every ‘made in Europe’ EV bought by a smart European also means giving space to another European fossil fuel car for a dumb one.

Both countries hope that their domestic car makers can so continue to produce more internal combustion engine cars (some with plug) for the next years to come. Carmakers claim that this gives them time to build up their EV portfolio (after missing the signs the past years). Who will pay? Consumers.

This is a massive weakening of the 2030 and 2035 targets at a time when it should be crystal clear to anyone that the future is electric. France and Germany will need to find enough Member States for the weakening, in Parliament they’ll find the EPP, ECR etc. on their side in their quest to […]

Plug-in hybrid vehicles, of which the EU’s own data analysis shows they emit 5x more in practice than their test value, will continue to use their fictional value at least until 2030. They should also count as ‘clean’ for the clean corporate vehicles directive.

France and Germany reach an agreement: the European Commission had scaled back the 2035 target from 100 to 90%, subject to conditions including the use of green steel. They scrap those additional conditions. But if green steel is used in cars, it can create additional ‘flexibility’ to reduce the 90%

This is, of course, also a wise move to ensure a robust policy direction; a pro-Russian regime following the elections cannot simply reverse this as it’s now a movement carried forward by many companies

One point I forgot on the flexibility pact: The almost complete roll-out of smart meters in France, known as ‘Linky’, has so far seen few advanced applications: switching on boilers during off-peak periods has been the most common use. France is set to focus on more diverse and flexible use […]

Let me follow this up straight away with a wish list for Part 3: more focus on expanding renewable energy and on building resilience through flexibility. Plus the beneficial role of smart public charging in ensuring affordability.

Overall, it is encouraging to see how flexibility and electrification go hand in hand. Many measures have been developed in consultation with the sector, or are part of a kind of public-private ‘movement’. Other countries can learn a great deal from this.

And (thanks for staying to the end!) a very interesting and important measure – a ‘right to plug’ for electric heavy-duty vehicles "with a view to clarifying and streamlining discussions between transport operators, logistics providers and landowners and warehouse operators."

- HDV depot chargers will see a € 2,5/MWh electricity levy reduction (~ € 3000 / year & 🚛) and - will be eligible for RFNBO certificates - like public chargers (more on that financing mechanism enabled by the EU's REDIII and my ideas how to make it even more effective 👇)

Of particular interest in relation to the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles (trucks, buses and coaches): ☎️ Grid operator Enedis provides a single point of contact for new or upgraded grid connections for chargers - Simplified depreciation rules for the additional costs compared with diesel

The plan also sets out a host of other actions for EVs, such as improved repairability, battery health certificates, € 400 million EV charging infrastructure support for apartments buildings, depots, HDV and shipping boats charging. And it mentions the 10x increase of motorway charging👇

The electrification plan also lists a number of private sector organisations that are committed to making more residential/business flexibility available from, amongst others, heat pumps and EVs. This is in line with the French approach to electrification as a widely supported industrial endeavour.

The introduction of new procurement models for suppliers also contributes to this affordability through flexibility, such as the ability to procure more effectively in line with the ‘solar bell’ 🔔

This also ties in nicely with one of the measures set out in the EU’s electrification action plan, which aims to make smart charging the default option in energy contracts: (And there's already an EU obligation via REDIII on Member States to make sure new charging points support smart charging)