Neverflat Pilot Sites: Preparing for Real-World Testing

The Neverflat project will demonstrate smart, bi-directional EV charging through four pilot sites in Germany, Romania, and Spain. Each site represents a different context where new charging technologies will be validated under real operating conditions.

Berlin, Germany – Ringberlin Startup Campus

 

  • Location: Ringberlin, Berlin-Mariendorf, Europe’s largest startup campus (17,000 m²).
  • Planned setup: Four charging stations (public and semi-public) at the campus entrance.
  • Grid connection: 900 kVA capacity (planned expansion to 3.3 MVA by 2026).
  • Use cases: Load shifting, peak shaving, priority charging, backup power, time-of-use charging, and CO₂ optimisation.
  • Status: Site development is ongoing. Charger installation is expected by mid-2026, subject to grid operator approval.

Alba Iulia, Romania – Dorin Pavel Technical College

 

  • Location: Technical College in central Alba Iulia, a complex of buildings equipped with PV systems (>120 MWh annual production).
  • Planned setup:
    • Existing PV (>120 kW) and under implementation a 13 kWh storage;
    • One standard 2×22 kW charging station planned (funded via Romania’s Recovery Plan);
    • Local pilot will require one Neverflat bidirectional prototype charging station provided by partners, which will be installed in location;
    • According to preliminary evaluation, connection to general electric panel, a bi-directional AC/DC converter, monitoring and reporting system and some construction works are needed for implementing local pilot.
  • Use cases: Load shifting with PV integration, smart charging (V1G), vehicle-to-building (V2B), and vehicle-to-load (V2L), considering local grid;
  • Users: Municipal fleet of 13 EVs (1 VW Golf e-motion, 12 MG ZS EVs) for standard charging, other local users; vehicles for V2B/V2G, V2L must be identified according to evolutions.

Status: Preparations with site owners are ongoing to align installation works with local approvals. Based on final technical pilot requirements, a public procurement process for needed technical design and installation works will be implemented.

Bucharest, Romania – BEIA Headquarters

  • Location: BEIA HQ campus (~4000 m², 10 buildings).

  • Existing infrastructure: 300 PV panels (150 kW) and a 47 kWh battery energy storage system.

  • Planned setup: Semi-public charging station with 2×22 kW points, using open protocol OCPP 1.6.

  • Use cases: Peak shaving and load shifting, supported by PV and storage integration.

  • Test vehicles: Honda e (35 kWh) and two Mitsubishi Outlander PHEVs (14 kWh).

Status: Legal and technical reviews are underway for charger installation, in coordination with the grid operator.

Technology Park of the Basque Country – Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus & Mobility Lab Vitoria-Gasteiz

  • Location: Technology Park of the Basque Country – Vitoria-Gasteiz Campus, home to 158 companies and ~3,500 employees.
  • Planned setup: V2G charging station prototype connected to a microgrid in Parking E6, near the Albert Einstein building.
  • Use cases: Energy arbitrage, V2G management validation, fleet load shifting, self-consumption with PV + BESS, and priority charging.
  • Status: The pilot is prepared within the Mobility Lab regulatory sandbox, enabling real-life testing under controlled conditions.

Next Steps

During the first year of the project, the focus has been on contractual activities, discussions with site owners, and aligning technical and operational requirements. Installations will follow as sites complete preparatory work, with Berlin expected to come online in 2026 and other sites progressing earlier.

These pilots will provide the foundation for testing Neverflat’s charging technologies under real conditions, ensuring that results are technically validated, economically viable, and socially relevant.