MUNICH & PFORZHEIM, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 22, 2025--
Electricity from renewable sources has become the new normal – in Germany alone, around 60 percent of net electricity generation came from renewables in 2024. But the growing volume of green power is posing new challenges for energy supply: The integration into the existing system urgently requires more flexibility. A Euroelectric/EY study forecasts a doubling of daily European flexibility demand by 2030 compared to 2021, potentially reaching 1.8 TWh daily (137 TWh annually), a substantial rise from the prior 1.5 TWh weekly demand. Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are identified as a key flexibility solution, potentially offering around 116 TWh capacity within five years.
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Dr. Frank Spennemann, Senior Manager Charging Solutions Energy at Mercedes-Benz, has a clear view of the importance of bidirectional charging, particularly vehicle-to-grid technology, for the success of the energy transition: “Research simulations have shown that bidirectional vehicles are key for grid stability and the transition to renewable sources of energy.” In France, a collaboration between Renault, a car manufacturer, and The Mobility House has launched a scheme enabling electricity customers to make their vehicle batteries available as grid-serving electricity storage systems in exchange for free charging. Marcus Fendt, Managing Director of The Mobility House, explains: “EV batteries are the most convenient storage option because the average car parking time is 23 hours per day. The average daily distance travelled by car in Germany is 36 kilometers. This corresponds to an energy consumption of around 8 kWh, or even less for very efficient e-cars.”
Today’s technology for tomorrow’s world
At the special exhibit on bidirectional charging, visitors will have the opportunity to learn about available components and solutions, to get a glimpse of the future and to talk to leading industry players. The special exhibit can be found in hall C6, right next to the Power2Drive Forum, on all three exhibition days. Exhibits and live demos will show how vehicle-to-X technology works in practice, be it vehicle-to-grid, vehicle-to-building, vehicle-to-load or vehicle-to-home. Through lectures and discussions, attendees will be able to get first-hand expert information on how bidirectional charging will change our energy system and which developments will shape its future. The special exhibit will also showcase inspiring projects and practical examples from Germany, Europe and across the world.
Forums and guided tours
One of the hot topics at The smarter E Europe exhibition forums will be bidirectional charging: Various aspects of vehicle-to-X technologies will be examined in seven sessions with high-carat speakers; five of these sessions will be part of the Power2Drive Forum. On all three exhibition days, the organizers will be offering guided tours during which industry experts will provide. The guided tours start from the info counter at the special exhibit on bidirectional charging at 11:30am and 3:30pm on all three days.
Special exhibit with strong support
The collaborative partners of the special exhibit on bidirectional charging contribute technical expertise and a wide range and in-depth insights. The organizers are delighted about the collaboration with E-Mobility Europe and Eurelectric, the European industry associations, the Research Center for Energy Economics (FfE), Lade GmbH, the National Center for Charging Infrastructure, Smart Energy Europe and The Mobility House. Sigenergy and Bi-CCS are sponsoring the event.
A special exhibition at The smarter E Europe is dedicated to bidirectional charging. ©Solar Promotion GmbH
BALTIMORE (AP) — If the second half of 2024 was a reality check for the Baltimore Orioles — their first real stretch of mediocrity since they became contenders again — the start of this season is a near-crisis.
This young Baltimore team experienced very little failure while winning 101 games in 2023, but now the Orioles are well aware of what baseball's more humbling side feels like.
“I think we’re getting a little more familiar (with adversity) than we wanted to be," general manager Mike Elias said before Friday night's 3-0 win over Kansas City.
Elias met with reporters to address his team's 12-18 record in April. The Orioles aren't just in last place in the AL East, they also had the worst run differential in the American League before Friday's game.
The young core of hitters that was so fearsome early last year has struggled mightily in 2025. Elias has reason to view that as a temporary blip, but the other main culprit this year — the collapse of the starting rotation — might be harder to fix.
Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and Albert Suarez are on the injured list and Dean Kremer took a 7.04 ERA into Friday's start before breaking through with seven scoreless innings. Tomoyuki Sugano has been fine, but Charlie Morton is 0-6 with a 9.45 ERA and will work out of the bullpen for now. Kyle Gibson allowed homers to four of the first five batters Tuesday in his first big league start of the season.
“It is difficult to contend with that level of injuries, but even that aside, they’ve had a poor start, and that’s my responsibility. I’m in charge of baseball operations," Elias said. "When we have a bad record to start the year, that’s my responsibility.”
Elias opened himself up to second-guessing in the offseason when the Orioles lost Corbin Burnes to free agency and he gave one-year contracts to Sugano, Morton and Gibson. One-year deals are usually considered pretty safe — even if they work out badly, they expire quickly. But Baltimore committed over $33 million to that trio, so if they keep performing this poorly as a group it would constitute a real misuse of resources.
In fairness, a rotation of Rodriguez, Eflin, Sugano, Kremer and Cade Povich could have been serviceable — with Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells expected back at some point from elbow surgery — but the injuries to Eflin and Rodriguez have forced Morton and Gibson to produce, and thus far they haven't.
Baltimore's 5.47 ERA entering Friday ranked 29th among the 30 teams, lower than only Miami’s 5.89.
The Orioles did manage to take two of three from the first-place New York Yankees earlier this week, but even that required a pair of one-run wins sandwiched around a 15-3 loss. There have simply been too many games in which Baltimore finds itself way behind because of poor pitching.
“Nobody’s happy with how we’ve performed so far. We have higher expectations for ourselves," manager Brandon Hyde said. "I talk with Mike multiple times a day. We’re not satisfied in the least bit. We know our team can play better than we have.”
Elias said he remains confident in Hyde.
"When things are going great — and they have at times here, we’ve had that — and then when we’re experiencing failure, it’s really important in that job and in my job too to be consistent with your approach," Elias said. "He’s doing that.”
Eflin (lat strain) and reliever Andrew Kittredge (knee) are expected to make minor league rehab appearances Sunday, and Elias said Rodriguez (elbow inflammation) might be able to throw by the end of this month.
“We are all working very hard and we have a lot of faith in this very talented group," Elias said. "Piece by piece, step by step, we're going to get guys healthier, we're going to get guys performing more to their norms. If there's something we can fix with a player, we're working on that.”
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Gibson, right, reacts during a pitching change in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Charlie Morton, front, walks back to the dugout after he was pulled during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, April 20, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
