Two organizations that already work closely on bidirectional charging have put their cooperation in writing. On Nov. 9, 2026, CharIN, the association focused on charging standards and interoperability, announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ElaadNL, the Dutch smart-charging research and test organization. The agreement focuses on vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and grid integration.

The headline needs a caveat, and CharIN states it in its own announcement. The MoU "sets the framework for the intended cooperation," and the specific activities and each organization's contributions "will be agreed separately." So this is a statement of intent with no work plan, budget or deliverables attached yet. Below is what the document covers, what it leaves out, and why these two partners matter for V2G in Europe.

What the MoU Says

According to CharIN's announcement, the two organizations intend to:

  • Exchange research findings, technical knowledge and practical experience.
  • Organize joint events and workshops.
  • Identify and overcome technical, operational and regulatory barriers to EV charging.
  • Coordinate communication and outreach, promoting consistent terminology and clear messaging around EV charging, grid integration and V2G.

CharIN's release includes statements from Claas Bracklo, CharIN's chairman, and Onoph Caron, ElaadNL's CEO. Caron describes the agreement as "a natural deepening" of a relationship that "has grown over many years through joint Testivals, practical testing and the exchange of technical expertise." Neither the release nor the other sources reviewed here name a specific standard, test specification, product certification or date that the MoU commits either side to deliver.

Announced, Not Yet Scoped

For readers keeping track of what is operating, funded or only planned, this one is easy to classify. The MoU is signed. Every activity under it is still to be agreed. The sources reviewed describe no joint project, funding commitment or timeline under the agreement. Any concrete output, whether a joint test event, a shared glossary or a published barrier analysis, would come from the separate agreements CharIN says will follow.

The terminology item may turn out to be the most practical part, because how V2G capability gets described to buyers is already an open question in Europe (more on that below).

Who ElaadNL Is

ElaadNL is the knowledge and innovation centre set up by the joint Dutch grid operators to research and test smart and sustainable charging of electric vehicles, according to a July 2024 piece from E.DSO, the European association of electricity distribution system operators. That background suggests ElaadNL's V2G work is closely tied to the distribution grid, including the low-voltage networks where congestion is a concern. The same E.DSO piece covers ElaadNL's V2X Symposium, held May 29, 2024 at its test lab in Arnhem, and a PwC report on using EV smart charging to reduce grid congestion in the Netherlands.

CharIN, for its part, describes its contribution to the MoU as expertise in charging standards and interoperability. An agreement between a grid-operator-backed test body and a standards-and-interoperability association pairs the grid-integration and vehicle-and-charger sides of the V2G problem.

The Track Record: Testival Europe 2026

The two organizations already have recent history together. ElaadNL hosted CharIN Testival Europe 2026 from May 5 to 7, 2026 at the ElaadNL Test Lab in Arnhem, with Milence as co-host. Testivals are interoperability events where vehicle manufacturers, charging station producers, test companies and infrastructure parties work together to improve interoperability between electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.

ElaadNL's May 11 recap gives these figures for the event:

  • More than 200 participants
  • Nine test sessions
  • Bidirectional (V2G) scenarios on both AC and DC, including applications based on ISO 15118-20
  • Bidirectional charging for heavy-duty transport via the Megawatt Charging System (MCS)
  • Grid Code testing for V2G, which ElaadNL describes as examining how the vehicle and charging station respond to signals and requirements from the electricity grid

The Grid Code item points to the grid side of V2G. Getting a car and a charger to run a bidirectional session is one problem. Getting the pair to respond correctly to grid requirements is another. The Testival tested bidirectional scenarios and grid-code behavior, though the sources do not say which of these the MoU's follow-on activities will address.

The Labelling Question

The MoU's commitment to "consistent terminology" is adjacent to work ElaadNL already has underway. On Oct. 13, 2026, ElaadNL held a kick-off webinar on V2G labels, which drew 140 registrations from companies across Europe according to the organization. The initial proposal aims to give clearer information about the V2G capabilities of electric vehicles and charging stations, and distinguishes between AC V2G and DC V2G and different levels of technical maturity, based on ISO 15118-20 support, grid connection requirements and interoperability.

ElaadNL says "V2G-ready" claims can leave consumers uncertain about what they are buying, and that a label should clarify which vehicles and charging stations work together, in which countries, and under what conditions. It asked for input by Oct. 25 and has scheduled a follow-up online meeting for Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, to discuss interim results and next steps.

The label is still a proposal under consultation. ElaadNL says the scope, requirements and organization of the label remain open for discussion, and that further development depends on sufficient market support. CharIN's MoU announcement does not say whether the label falls within the cooperation, so any role for CharIN is not established. The terminology clause could give the two organizations a place to start, if they choose to.

What It Means for Drivers

In the short term, nothing changes for anyone plugging in. The MoU does not alter which vehicles can charge where, does not certify any vehicle or charger for V2G, and sets no date by which anything becomes available. The sources describe no change to pricing, access or charger availability.

The work that could eventually reach drivers runs along two tracks:

  • Clearer V2G labelling. If ElaadNL's proposal moves ahead, buyers could get plainer information on whether a car or charger supports V2G, and whether that support is AC or DC. As of Nov. 10, 2026, this is a consultation, and the next discussion is the Nov. 18 online meeting.
  • Interoperability testing. Events like Testival Europe 2026, which tested ISO 15118-20-based bidirectional scenarios and V2G grid-code behavior, are where mismatches between cars and chargers can be found before customers run into them. The MoU signals that the two organizations intend to keep working together, but follow-on activities have not been specified.

If you are weighing a home V2G setup, check the vehicle maker's documentation for confirmed bidirectional support, and whether it is AC or DC, before buying. Any installation work should be done by a licensed electrician following the manufacturer's instructions and your grid operator's requirements.

Fleet and depot operators running heavy-duty trucks should keep an eye on the MCS bidirectional testing reported from the Arnhem Testival. As of these sources, it is test-lab work, not a deployed service.

What to Watch

  • The separate agreements. The MoU only has substance once CharIN and ElaadNL publish the specific activities and contributions they say they will agree on.
  • Nov. 18, 2026. ElaadNL's follow-up meeting on V2G labels is the next public milestone on terminology.
  • Future Testivals. Whether the bidirectional AC, DC and MCS scenarios from Arnhem come back, and expand, at later events.

Sources