Executive Summary

Belgium is at a tipping point when it comes to electrification. The electrification of industry, mobility, and buildings is a crucial lever for both economic competitiveness and climate objectives. However, this evolution is increasingly confronted with the limits of the electricity grid. EV Belgium regrets to see that our members who wish to invest in the electrification of mobility—and thus lower Belgium's dependence on imported and polluting fossil fuels—are currently hindered due to a lack of grid infrastructure. There are huge connection queues in Flanders and Wallonia, which is very problematic for the energy transition.  Grid constraints may in no case slow down electrification or EV adoption. On the contrary, continued investment in electrification is essential to reach long-term policy objectives. 

The opportunity cost of inaction is staggering: currently, 7 billion euros of renewable energy is wasted every year in Europe due to a lack of electricity demand at moments of high renewable generation. A recent event on Easter Monday 2026, which saw a surplus of 1.4 GW of PV-electricity, highlighted the critical importance of flexibility. Flexible EV charging could have significantly reduced this surplus, resulting in millions of euros in cost savings in just one day. Failing to integrate EVs and other assets as active grid participants will result in extra unnecessary, massive additional capital expenditures on copper and cabling.  To solve these challenges and lower the societal costs of the energy transition, EV Belgium strongly urges policymakers, grid operators, and industry stakeholders to acknowledge that electric vehicles (EVs) are not merely consumers of energy; they are the largest untapped flexibility asset within our entire energy ecosystem. They are definitely not a grid burden. Unlike traditional industrial electrical loads, EV charging is inherently flexible. Electric vehicles are "batteries on wheels" and will be a significant part of the solution to our growing flexibility challenge. 

By leveraging Smart Charging and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2X/V2G) technologies, we can optimize existing infrastructure and significantly reduce the societal cost of the energy transition. Elia estimates that extra flexibility among end users could save the Belgian electricity system up to €500 million per year. Assuming that 50% of these savings are achieved through the use of V2X, this would represent a saving of around €250 million per year. 

To unlock this immense potential, policymakers and grid operators must fully engage with the e-mobility industry. The regulatory framework must be modernized to reward flexibility, and we must collaboratively establish the right conditions to support both the transition to electric mobility and the broader societal shift toward low-emission energy.  Achieving this requires action across five key pillars:

• EVs as the Grid’s Strongest Ally: By acknowledging electric vehicles and charging infrastructure as the energy system's largest untapped flexibility asset, policymakers and grid operators can leverage smart charging and Vehicle-to-Grid technologies to balance energy demand.
• The Need for Grid Investments: Smart solutions do not replace physical upgrades; Grid operators (DSO/TSO) must continue investing in transformers and cabling to resolve structural bottlenecks and prevent congestion. 
• Increase Grid Transparency: TSOs and DSOs must provide real-time capacity maps and visualize existing capacity allocation to enable strategic planning and reduce sunk costs.
• Implement Market Incentives and Unlock Flexibility: Manage congestion through financially adequate tarification —such as Time of Use tariffs—rather than punitive curtailment. Remove barriers that block access to flexibility markets (B2C/B2B contracts with no or limited flexibility) and focus on digitalisation (smart meters)
• Rethink Grid Allocation: Update the outdated "First-In-First-Out" (FIFO) model and add maturity filters to eliminate "ghost congestion". If this is not sufficient, additional solutions should be considered.

Ultimately, the transition must be economically viable for all participants. Through positive reinforcement, dynamic pricing models, and the empowerment of System Operators to purchase flexibility services, we can incentivize smart behavior rather than resorting to punitive measures. EV Belgium wants to support the new governments in driving forward their vision to power Belgium through affordable, locally produced, and clean electricity, enhancing our energy security and supply for all.

Download and read the full position statement below!