Between May 4 and 6, 2026, our partner JOANNEUM RESEARCH (JR) represented the OPENTUNITY project at the STS Conference Graz 2026 in Austria. Organized by the Graz University of Technology, this event is a cornerstone for the scientific community to discuss the intersections of Science, Technology, and Society.

The Focus: Can Carsharing Support Grid Flexibility?

The core of JR’s participation was the presentation of their latest research titled: “Shared cars, flexible charging: When cost savings meet additional effort”. The study addresses a fundamental challenge in the energy transition: how to manage the volatility of renewable energy by utilizing the inherent flexibility of electric vehicles (EVs).

The research specifically explores whether integrating flexibility into a carsharing business model (such as the one operated by our partner Avant car in Slovenia) is viab

le from both a technical and social perspective.

Key Insights: Flex On-the-Go vs. Flex at Home

The study, based on a survey of over 950 Avant car customers, analyzed two main scenarios for flexible charging:

• Flex on-the-go: Charging the rented vehicle at suggested points during the trip to support the grid.
• Flex at home: Taking the rented vehicle home and allowing it to be charged flexibly overnight.

The findings were revealing:

• Motivation: Cost savings remain the primary driver for users (over 85% interest), followed by a desire to support sustainability and the energy transition.
• Barriers: For many users, the “additional effort” is a significant hurdle. Many feel that since they are paying for a mobility service, they do not want the extra complexity of managing charging schedules.
• Feasibility: The research suggests there is no “quick win,” but flexibility models can succeed if cost savings are high enough and the additional effort for the user is kept to an absolute minimum.

Scientific Exchange and Future Outlook

For the OPENTUNITY project, participating in the STS Conference was a “great opportunity for exchange between applied research and colleagues with a more academic approach“. This collaboration with Avant car allowed the team to access real-world field data, reducing sampling bias and ensuring that the project’s innovations are grounded in actual user behavior.

By exploring these social and technical boundaries, OPENTUNITY continues to pave the way for a more integrated and decarbonized European electricity ecosystem.

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Resources for Download

You can access the full technical details and the results presented at the conference through the following links:

📥 [Download the Presentation Slides] (PDF)