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A Flying Start and Our First Charging Session
Voltbee’s launch didn’t go unnoticed. Media outlets including Autoblog, Algemeen Dagblad and De Groene Nerds shared our story.
The Netherlands seems ready to embrace home EV charger sharing on a larger scale. And that makes perfect sense.
The Dutch net metering scheme is coming to an end, petrol prices are rising, and Europe’s electricity grids face major challenges. According to European research, smarter EV charging could save €10.6 billion in grid investments by 2030. By sharing existing chargers and making smarter use of available grid capacity, we can make electric driving more affordable and contribute to a smarter, more efficient energy system.
It’s fantastic that Voltbee can contribute to this. But what excites us most is seeing our first users get involved. The first charging sessions have already taken place! During the very first session in Utrecht, an impressive 55 kWh of electricity was charged. This shows that there’s also demand for longer charging sessions.
We’ve laid a solid foundation, and we’re building on it to grow a community that helps transform the energy system from within.
The Power of Community
One thing that immediately stands out is how engaged our users are. We’re receiving lots of valuable feedback and great ideas. And we’re incredibly grateful for that!
We believe in the collective wisdom of the community. Transforming our energy system is complex. But by embracing that complexity, we create space for new solutions. In a complex system, the answer doesn’t lie in rigid control, but in discovering the underlying simplicity and trusting in self-organisation.
Some of the ideas that keep coming up include dynamic charging rates, ERE incentives and parking. Why should charging always cost the same when electricity prices fluctuate? And why not combine charging with parking, which costs an average of €3.44 per hour? ERE incentives also offer opportunities, allowing charger hosts to earn additional income from shared charging sessions.
We’ll soon be turning this feedback into practical features in the Voltbee app. Together, we’re building a smarter, more decentralised energy system.
What We’ve Already Improved
We’re big fans of the saying: “Think big, start small.” To us, thinking big means using our imagination and exploring new possibilities to accelerate the energy transition. Starting small means focusing on everyday challenges and taking concrete steps forward. No endless meetings or advice reports, but rolling up our sleeves and pioneering new solutions.
Since our launch, we’ve introduced several improvements to make sharing EV chargers even easier.
Here are some of the improvements:
- Smarter notifications: Receive push notifications and optional emails about reservations and other updates.
- Location-based charger availability: Easily discover available EV chargers near you.
- Clearer reservation overview: Get a better overview of your upcoming and past reservations.
- Payout insights: See when your earnings will be paid out.
- Redesigned dashboard: See your total charging sessions and earnings at a glance.
These improvements may seem small, but together they make a big difference. We continue to improve Voltbee every day, together with our users.
The Next Steps Towards the Energy Grid of the Future
There’s a clear direction emerging from the ideas and feedback we receive. Every EV charger is part of a unique ecosystem, with each household having its own combination of energy generation, consumption, parking options and fixed or dynamic electricity tariffs. It’s precisely these differences that create opportunities to use energy more intelligently and locally.
The real transformation of our energy system starts from within. Not by simply adjusting the existing system, but by embracing the diversity behind every EV charger and turning it into a strength.
To make this possible, we’re working on several new features:
- Dynamic charging rates: Prices that adjust to electricity market prices and the availability of renewable energy.
- Smart charger integrations: Remotely start and stop charging sessions and automatically measure energy consumption.
- Greater visibility: Make Voltbee chargers discoverable through other charging apps and navigation systems.
- More flexible parking: Combine parking and charging in smarter ways, creating more opportunities for charger hosts and EV drivers.
The creativity and feedback of our users continue to inspire us. Ideas around ERE incentives and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology also show just how many possibilities still lie ahead.
But first, we’re focusing on the improvements planned for the coming months. With one shared goal: to make electric driving more accessible and affordable, and to build the energy grid of the future together.
