Turning EV Chargers into a Virtual Power Plant

What if public EV fast chargers could support the grid instead of straining it?

In Episode 30 of The Charge Point Podcast, FLEXECHARGE’s Christophe Lephilibert speaks with Ludwig Hägglund (Recharge) and Nicola Miori (FLEXECHARGE) about a world-first: building a virtual power plant (VPP) for public charging in the Nordics.

From frequency containment reserves to invisible customer impact, the discussion reveals how pioneering CPOs can transform charging networks into flexible, revenue-generating energy assets.

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Key Takeaways

• CPOs as grid players, not just consumers
  Traditionally, public charging networks were seen as heavy loads on the grid. By aggregating 4,500+ chargers across the Nordics, Recharge showed that these assets can also provide value back to the energy system. This marks an important mindset shift for the industry—CPOs must evolve from being pure consumers to becoming active energy participants.

“We couldn’t just be a strain on the system. We needed to be part of it.” — Ludwig Hägglund, Recharge

• Milliseconds matter
  To qualify for frequency containment reserves (FCR-D up), activation must happen in under 7.5 seconds. That meant designing a highly responsive cloud-based VPP logic, seamless integration with balancing service providers, and iterative testing to meet strict TSO requirements. This technical breakthrough set a precedent for public charging flexibility worldwide.

“All this process had to happen within 7.5 seconds. If you can’t deliver flexibility within this timeframe, you cannot qualify the assets.” — Nicola Miori, FLEXECHARGE

• Customer experience untouched
  EV drivers remain at the center. Despite real-time activations, FLEXECHARGE’s smart load management ensured that charging sessions remained smooth and reliable. Even during flexibility events, the impact on drivers was minimal—typically only 30 to 60 seconds added per session, making the service effectively invisible to customers.

“At its worst, an activation may prolong a session by half a minute to a minute. It’s nothing customers will ever notice.” — Ludwig Hägglund, Recharge

• New revenue streams for CPOs
  The economics of ultra-fast charging are capital intensive, making profitability difficult with kWh sales alone. By selling flexibility to the grid, CPOs can unlock new income sources while keeping charging prices competitive. This concept of value stacking—combining charging revenues with ancillary services—will be central to building sustainable business models for operators.

“This is about value stacking—getting more out of the investments we’ve already made.” — Ludwig Hägglund, Recharge

• Collaboration drives success
  Innovation at this scale requires more than technology—it demands coordination across the ecosystem. The project brought together Recharge, FLEXECHARGE, Fever, and Antigua, with each playing a critical role. By aligning departments from operations to customer experience, the teams worked as one unified group to make the impossible happen.

“We didn’t operate as individual companies. We worked as a single team—and that’s why we succeeded.” — Nicola Miori, FLEXECHARGE

Why This Matters for the EV Charging Industry

The FLEXECHARGE – Recharge project marks a paradigm shift. Until now, public charging was seen mainly as a grid challenge. This VPP proves it can also be part of the solution.

For charge point operators, this signals a future where infrastructure is not only a service for drivers but also a flexible energy asset. The ability to stack revenues from charging, grid services, and optimization strategies will be decisive in keeping prices competitive and ensuring network profitability.

It also sets the stage for what comes next: integrating battery storage, local flexibility services, and peak shaving into one orchestrated energy strategy.

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🎧 Listen & Learn More

Explore how FLEXECHARGE and Recharge and built the first virtual power plant for public charging:

👉 Listen to Episode 30 of The Charge Point Podcast

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