Volkswagen and Elli Shake up the Electricity Market: How Private Customers Could Soon Earn Money With Electric Cars
Wolfsburg (Germany) - Volkswagen is pushing forward the integration of electromobility and the energy market: With a new vehicle-to-grid (V2G) offering, electric car batteries are set to serve as flexible electricity storage systems in the future. Private customers could not only reduce costs but also actively participate in the energy market and generate additional income.
Electric car as a source of income: Volkswagen brings vehicle-to-grid into everyday life
Volkswagen is preparing to enter the market with a comprehensive vehicle-to-grid offering for private customers in Germany. From the fourth quarter of 2026, electric vehicle owners will be able not only to charge their cars but also to actively integrate them into the electricity market. Pre-registration is planned to begin as early as June 2026.
The core of the approach is the use of the vehicle battery as a temporary electricity storage unit. Customers provide flexible capacity and receive compensation in return. According to the company, this compensation is independent of specific trading success and is based on the level of flexibility customers choose when charging.
Martin Sander, Board Member for Sales at the Volkswagen brand, emphasizes the economic benefit: “ With Vehicle-to-Grid, we are delivering exactly that: significantly lower home charging costs - and, in the long term, nearly cost-free charging.” Models from the ID. family have already been technically prepared for bidirectional charging since 2023.
The economic potential is considered substantial. Market estimates suggest that, in the best-case scenario, annual earnings could reach between €700 and €900. Electromobility is thus increasingly evolving from a cost factor into an active component of the energy system. At the same time, customers are expected to benefit from an integrated offering from a single source: dynamic electricity tariffs, a DC bidirectional wallbox, smart meter, and digital app are systematically interconnected.
Integrated energy system: Elli manages networking and energy trading
Volkswagen subsidiary Elli plays a central role in the new ecosystem. The company acts as an interface within the group, connecting vehicles, charging infrastructure, and the energy market. The goal is to aggregate battery capacities and deploy them as bundled flexibility in the electricity market.
CEO Giovanni Palazzo describes the strategic dimension: “We are now taking the next step: connecting batteries, unlocking new value through aggregation, and making our vision of a ‘Managed Battery Network’ a tangible reality for the first time.” Elli also handles energy trading and operates on the electricity exchange around the clock.
In addition to individual benefits, Volkswagen also sees macroeconomic effects. According to studies, vehicle-to-grid could save around €22 billion in system costs annually in Europe by 2040. One reason is the more efficient use of renewable energy: in Germany alone, around 9,500 GWh were recently curtailed.
The technological basis is the modular electric drive platform (MEB), which is already installed in around one million vehicles in Europe. With the next software generation, additional models and battery sizes are expected to be integrated. According to Volkswagen, battery lifespan will not be significantly affected.
A key building block for implementation is the smart meter, which enables precise measurement and control of electricity flows. Installation is expected to take place within eight to ten weeks in cooperation with competitive metering point operators. This will create the infrastructure required for a broad rollout.
Overall, the group is pursuing a clearly integrated platform model. Unlike fragmented solutions, Volkswagen combines vehicles, energy products, and market access within its own ecosystem - with the aim of retaining the customer interface and core value creation while actively supporting the energy transition.
Source: IWR Online, 23 Apr 2026
