A Review of Tariffs and Services for Smart Charging of Electric Vehicles in Europe

Smart charging of electric vehicles (EVs) is an essential approach to reduce the costs and maximise the benefits of increasing numbers of EVs being connected to the power grid. This article analyses 139 tariffs and services for smart EV charging available in Europe. It finds that while the market for smart EV charging services is growing, there is a lack of consumer information on the savings and broader environmental benefits it offers, such as integration of renewables. Offers are also unevenly distributed across the continent, resulting in unequal access to smart EV charging. The article outlines six strategies to establish framework conditions in energy markets that would address these gaps and establish smart charging as a standard means of charging, to ensure the beneficial integration of EVs into power grids.