Study from Elli and New Energy Alliance highlights role of EVs and home energy systems in lowering household costs and boosting grid resilience

From left to right: Philipp Schröder, Bastian Gierull, Felix Plog, Giovanni Palazzo, Benjamin Merle, Marc Wallraf

(IN BRIEF) Volkswagen Group Charging’s Elli and more than 20 energy companies have released a Roland Berger study showing that decentralized energy technologies – such as EVs, solar systems, home batteries, and heat pumps – could save the German energy system up to €255 billion by 2045, while also creating 100,000 new jobs. The report highlights the importance of bidirectional EV charging and distributed energy flexibility in cutting household costs, strengthening supply security, and reducing grid expansion needs. The New Energy Alliance urges policymakers to establish clear frameworks that treat decentralized energy on equal terms with large-scale renewable projects.

(PRESS RELEASE) WOLFSBURG, 30-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli), together with more than 20 leading energy companies, has published a new study on the role of decentralized energy in Germany’s transition to a sustainable power system. The analysis, conducted by Roland Berger, finds that combining electric vehicles, solar systems, home batteries, and heat pumps could reduce costs in the German energy system by up to €255 billion by 2045 – equivalent to an annual added value of around €13 billion.

The study makes clear that Germany’s energy transition will only succeed if decentralized solutions are integrated alongside large-scale renewable power plants. According to the findings, distributed technologies can simultaneously secure energy supply, lower household costs, and strengthen national independence.

The automotive industry and e-mobility are highlighted as central players in this transformation. Intelligent, bidirectional charging will enable EVs to serve as mobile energy storage units, easing strain on the grid while providing greater autonomy for households. When paired with solar generation and heat pumps, these technologies could cut consumer energy costs and reduce reliance on imported energy.

“E-mobility is more than just clean transportation – it is a key building block of tomorrow’s energy system,” said Giovanni Palazzo, CEO of Elli. “Smart, bidirectional charging empowers households, lowers costs, and contributes to economic growth. If we fail to take advantage of decentralized potential now, we risk unnecessary investment in fossil backup capacity.”

Key findings of the study include:

• Energy costs for households and SMEs could be cut by up to 50%, saving private households as much as €1,200 annually.
• Distributed energy solutions could create up to 100,000 new jobs by 2045.
• Intelligent flexibility from decentralized systems could reduce grid expansion needs at the low-voltage level by 40–50%.

To unlock these benefits, the “New Energy Alliance” – which includes companies such as 1KOMMA5°, Enpal, LichtBlick, Octopus Energy, thermondo, and Elli – is calling for a fair regulatory framework. This includes giving decentralized flexibility equal treatment to large-scale renewable projects, accelerating smart meter deployment, revising grid tariffs for storage systems, and enabling wider adoption of bidirectional charging.

The full study and more information are available at www.new-energy-alliance.de. For further insights on Elli’s activities, visit www.volkswagen-group.com and www.elli.eco.

Media c Contacts:

Julia Pirlich
Volkswagen Group Technology / Head of Corporate Communications (Elli)
+49 (0) 1753713564
julia.pirlich@elli.eco

SOURCE: Volkswagen