What value did rural V2X chargepoints create?

The project showed that 15 rural V2X chargepoints can deliver significant non-financial value alongside modest but meaningful financial benefits. Communities valued resilience most highly: V2X-enabled buildings could act as warm, safe spaces during outages, while car club members and residents felt empowered by contributing to local energy security. Financially, modelling and live trials demonstrated potential export revenues of up to £300 per site per year, alongside reduced energy costs through solar self-consumption and peak-time demand shifting. While no single use case is transformative alone, combining resilience, shared mobility, renewables and flexibility creates strong overall value for communities, local authorities, DNOs and citizens.

What dependencies are required to maximise value?

The project found that V2X value depends on a combination of technical, behavioural and organisational factors. Key dependencies include access to V2X-capable vehicles, reliable connectivity, compatible chargers and clear operational guidance. Just as important were people-based factors: training, trust and confidence. When volunteers and car club members received hands-on support, they quickly learned how to operate charge and discharge cycles and were willing to adapt behaviour, such as staying plugged in longer. Sites with solar generation and predictable vehicle availability, particularly car clubs, were best placed to unlock stacked benefits.

To what extent did the project increase energy flexibility for DNOs?

The project successfully demonstrated that rural community sites can provide real, schedulable energy flexibility. Analysis showed vehicles were typically plugged in longer than required for charging, creating predictable flexibility windows aligned with solar generation and evening peak demand. The project moved beyond modelling by winning two live DNO flexibility tenders, proving that community-scale V2X assets can participate in real markets. DNO interviews confirmed that V2X can reduce network constraints, enhance resilience during outages and improve staff safety by reducing the need for emergency repairs during severe weather

What additional costs arise compared with standard EV charging?

V2X systems require higher upfront investment and longer installation timelines than standard EV charge points. Additional costs arise from more complex hardware, commissioning, grid approvals and site-specific electrical works. However, the project showed that learning effects reduced friction over time, and AC V2X in particular offers a more affordable and scalable route, with price differences narrowing as the technology matures. When V2X is assessed as multi-purpose infrastructure—supporting charging, resilience and flexibility—the additional costs can be justified as part of a wider energy and community resilience strategy.

What cyber-resilience challenges were identified?

The project highlighted that V2X chargers are not just energy assets but also digital infrastructure, particularly in remote rural settings with limited connectivity. Cyber-resilience challenges include maintaining secure operation during intermittent connectivity, managing remote control safely, and ensuring systems remain robust when operating in islanded or resilience modes. The project demonstrated that applying recognised cyber-security standards and designing security in from the outset is essential, especially as EVs and chargepoints increasingly form part of local critical infrastructure.