On 21 January, following the project’s 8th General Assembly, EV4EU Slovenian partners welcomed the public to the University of Ljubljana, Faculty of electrical engineering (UL) for the open event ‘Electric Vehicles for a Flexible European Energy System’.
Organized jointly by UL, GEN-I, and Elektro Celje, the event brought together a broad range of stakeholders from the e-mobility and power system sectors. Participants included regulators, distribution and transmission system operators, industry representatives, electric vehicle and charging infrastructure manufacturers, solution providers, research institutions, and media representatives.
The event also saw strong participation from system operators, including three of Slovenia’s five distribution network operators, two international DSOs, the combined transmission and distribution system operator ELES, the Slovenian Energy Agency, and more than ten related thematic organizations. Active engagement throughout the discussions highlighted the strong interest in addressing the challenges of large-scale electric vehicle integration and in exploring the role of V2X technologies in future power system operation.
This broad representation significantly enhanced the event’s impact, providing a unique platform for a discussion on e-mobility in Slovenia and Europe.
Let’s take a closer look at each session.
The first session, chaired by Matej Zajc, explored eMobility and V2X from both EU and Slovenian perspectives. The session opened with welcome addresses from Marko Topič, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana, and Hugo Morais, EV4EU Project Coordinator. Presentations included an overview of the EV4EU project and its contribution to carbon neutrality. Invited speakers, addressed key challenges and opportunities related to eMobility and V2X technologies, offering perspectives from both Slovenia and the wider European context.
The second session, chaired by Andreja Smole, focused on the participation of eMobility and V2X in electricity and flexibility markets through the Slovenian EV4EU demo. Presentations covered local flexibility markets for distribution networks, integration and testing of V2X-enabled electric vehicles, V2G-enabled charging infrastructure based on ISO 15118-20, and methodologies for quantifying V2X potential for local grid services. The session concluded with a strategic discussion on the long-term vision for V2X and emerging business models.
Overall, the EV4EU Open Event provided an overview of project results, real-world demonstrator insights, and strategic perspectives on the future of eMobility in Europe.
Here are some key highlights from the EV4EU open event:
- EV4EU insights: Provides practical guidance for integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into the power system, focusing on V2X and demonstrator lessons.
- Grid readiness: Large-scale EV adoption requires reinforced and digitally enabled grid infrastructure to prevent operational issues.
- Ecosystem approach: EV integration needs more than chargers – it requires coordinated control, aggregation, and active participation in flexibility markets.
- Smart vehicles: Software-defined EVs enable intelligent charging/discharging and EV flexibility.
- Local flexibility markets: Support grid stability and mass EV adoption; data interoperability is essential for efficient flexibility services.
- Pilot testing: V2X-enabled EVs and their integration in virtual power plants (VPPs) help validate solutions, reduce risks, and inform market deployment.
- V2G-ready infrastructure: ISO 15118-20 compliant chargers are key for scaling V2X solutions and accelerating adoption.
- Flexibility potential: Estimating EV flexibility using models and tools is vital to know when, where, and how much flexibility can be activated.
- Business models: Clear value creation for stakeholders is crucial for V2X adoption and shaping future regulations.
“We titled the event Electric Vehicles for a Flexible European Energy System to highlight how the electrification of mobility can actively contribute to a more resilient power system. The focus is on vehicle-based flexibility as a smarter way to support the grid. This is only possible with full digitalization of the energy system, enabling grid observability and advanced flexibility services that allow electric vehicles to actively support grid stability rather than challenge it.”, shared Matej Zajc (UL).
And now, as EV4EU enters its final months, the insights gathered in Slovenia will play a crucial role in defining the project’s expected contribution to Europe’s transition toward a flexible, interoperable, and sustainable energy system powered by electric mobility.
EV4EU’s final stop will be the project’s final public event on May 19th at the Transport Research Arena Conference (TRA 2026). Registrations are now open.
We look forward to seeing everyone in Budapest!
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