These tiny Renaults are not only car-sharing, they’re powering an entire city
Published on Jun 05, 2025 at 8:45 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jun 06, 2025 at 9:22 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Renault 5 EV has debuted not only as a fleet-level car-sharing service in Utrecht in the Netherlands, but also as a way of powering an entire city.
The scheme is taking place in the Dutch Municipality of Utrecht. The municipality has teamed up with MyWheels, We Drive Solar, and Renault.
They have debuted Europe’s first large-scale vehicle-to-grid (V2G) car-sharing service, which has been given the name Utrecht Energized.
If successful, the scheme will stabilize the grid and offer residents of Utrecht a sustainable way of getting around the municipality.
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The idea behind the V2G ecosystem is simple.
The Renaults can store their energy and then feed it back into the electrical grid during peak usage hours.
Shared with the mobility service, it balances out the grid’s usage and provides a sustainable way of getting around.
The manufacturer and Utrecht announced the scheme back in November 2024, with it going live at the start of June 2025.
It’s a sign of how far ahead the Netherlands is when it comes to solar and wind-based energy development.
Utrecht is currently ranked as one of the most progressive renewable energy cities in the whole of Europe.
As such, it made perfect sense for it to be a location for this scheme.
To add to the excitement, the selected car for the new scheme is one of the best EVs currently on the market.
This is the Renault 5 EV, with a whole fleet of them being deployed to the Netherlands.
The Renault 5 earned plaudits quickly thanks to its retro design, inspired by the original Renault 5 of the 1970s-1990s.
It is also one of the cheapest EVs in Europe, available for around $29,000 at base price, rising to around $38,000.
The French company’s electric car range is starting to expand, thanks to the Megane E-Tech and the new, retro Renault 4.
These will be added to the Utrecht scheme as they become available.
That will further enhance the program and add even more versatility to it.
Other cities across Europe are bound to take note, especially others within the Netherlands.
If this is successful, expect it to become one of the biggest trendsetters for renewable transportation and energy.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
