How Smart EV Charging Is Rewiring the Grid

A UK trial shows smart EV charging can cut peaks and unlock £470 million a year by 2036

13 Feb 2026

Electric vehicles have long been seen as a strain on the power grid. Now they are proving they can steady it.

An Ofgem-backed trial known as Crowdflex has shown that home EV charging can double as a grid-balancing tool. Run by the National Electricity System Operator from May 2024 to September 2025, the program enrolled nearly 20,000 drivers and tested a simple idea: reward households for shifting charging away from peak hours.

The results were striking. More than £750,000 was paid out to participants. Plug-in rates jumped 40 percent compared with drivers outside the scheme. Over 400 flexibility events were delivered, with charging automatically adjusted in response to real-time grid signals. For most drivers, the change was invisible. Their cars were ready when needed.

Behind the scenes, the impact was tangible. By smoothing out demand spikes, smart charging eased pressure on local networks and reduced the risk of bottlenecks as EV adoption gathers pace.

Industry estimates suggest that rolling out similar programs nationwide could save UK consumers up to £470 million annually by 2036. The savings would come from avoiding costly grid upgrades and making better use of existing infrastructure.

“This is a blueprint for the future of domestic flexibility,” said NESO chief executive Fintan Slye, pointing to the growing role households can play in stabilizing a cleaner power system.

Technology firms such as Ohme provided the platforms that made it possible. Their software optimized charging schedules automatically, blending convenience with clear financial incentives.

The timing is crucial. As electric vehicles multiply across Europe, regulators are scrambling to prevent infrastructure overload. Flexibility markets, which pay consumers to adjust demand, are fast becoming central to energy policy.

Challenges remain, from widening participation beyond early adopters to safeguarding consumer data. Yet Crowdflex hints at a shift in mindset.

The family car, once a passive drain on the grid, may soon become one of its most responsive assets.