News (EN) - Forschungscampus Mobility2Grid

Mobility2Grid on ARD Radio: How Far Along Is Bidirectional Charging?

25. June 2026/by Melanie Weis

The Mobility2Grid research campus is conducting research on electric vehicles as mobile energy storage systems. Through bidirectional charging, they have the potential to actively support the energy transition. But how far along is the development of this technology? What obstacles remain? What are the next steps needed to ensure that electric vehicles can not only charge but also feed electricity back into the grid or into buildings when needed?

Nina Weber and Alexander Grahle from Mobility2Grid e.V. discussed these issues in an interview with the ARD science editorial team. The report explains how bidirectional charging can help better integrate renewable energy into the energy system and reduce grid loads. At the same time, there are still major technical and regulatory challenges that limit its widespread adoption.

The radio segment was broadcast on SWR Kultur, BR24, and WDR 5, among others.
You can listen to the segment in the ARD audio library. The interview with Mobility2Grid begins at the 49:00 mark. It is Only available in German language.

Survey on mobility behaviour – commuting, leisure, new ways of getting around: How do you get around Berlin?

23. June 2026/by JFahlbusch

How are rising energy and transport costs affecting our daily lives? And how are options such as walking and cycling actually used and perceived?

To find this out, we at the ‘Mobility2Grid Research Campus’, with the support of the ‘GreenPath’ project, are currently conducting a scientific online survey. The survey is specifically aimed at all employees and stakeholders at the EUREF Campus and Berlin’s ‘Zukunftsorte’.

Your experience matters: by taking part, you’ll help us gain valuable insights into the mobility of tomorrow. The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete, is completely anonymous and is used solely for research purposes. The survey is available in both German and English.

Click here to go directly to the online survey

Thank you very much for your support!

M2G Network Meeting at the ringberlin Transfer Area

11. June 2026/by JFahlbusch

The M2G network meeting at our ringberlin transfer area focused on personal exchange within the Mobility2Grid Research Campus. The event provided partners from academia, industry, public administration, and practice with an opportunity to get to know each other better, strengthen existing collaborations, and identify new points of connection for joint work on the energy and mobility transition.

At the same time, current developments at the M2G transfer area ringberlin were presented. The site serves as a practice-oriented testing and demonstration environment where new approaches to integrated energy, mobility, and district solutions can be made visible and further developed. In this way, ringberlin forms an important interface between research, application, and knowledge transfer.

The exchange once again highlighted what characterises the Mobility2Grid Research Campus: close cooperation across disciplines and stakeholder groups. Together, the M2G partners work on solutions for key future challenges, ranging from vehicle-to-grid and smart charging to sustainable logistics and new district and mobility concepts.

Special thanks go to Matthias Menger and the ringberlin team for their hospitality and for providing valuable insights into the development of the site. We would also like to thank all participating partners for the open exchange and their commitment. The diversity of the network shows that the strength of Mobility2Grid lies in combining scientific expertise, practical business experience, and concrete implementation perspectives.

(CC BY-SA 4.0) Ludger Heide

Prof. Kai Strunz on rbb news: Building a More Resilient Power Grid for Berlin

15. May 2026/by Emma Schreiber-Karaschewski

In a report by the Berlin-based broadcaster rbb Abendschau titled “Berlin strengthens protection for the power grid after attacks,” aired on May 4, 2026, M2G board member Prof. Kai Strunz (Technical University of Berlin) commented on the ongoing debate about the security of electricity supply — especially within the network operated by Stromnetz Berlin. The discussion follows recent attacks on Berlin’s power infrastructure, some of which caused prolonged power outages and renewed concerns about the resilience of critical energy systems.

At the core of his assessment is the need to make grid structures more resilient in the long term, particularly through the expansion of redundancies within the electricity network.

According to Prof. Strunz, the short-term focus of Berlin’s grid operators on protecting particularly vulnerable so-called neuralgic points through measures such as fencing, video surveillance, and increased security personnel is an important first step. However, he emphasizes that these measures represent only one part of the solution.

Building on this, he argues that the electricity grid must be further developed at a structural level. Strunz points to the growing share of decentralized energy generation from renewable sources and their storage. In this context, he highlights the significant potential of rooftop photovoltaic systems as well as the use of battery storage solutions, including electric vehicle batteries as potential local energy storage systems.

Furthermore, he advocates for a stronger meshing of electricity grids. This refers to network architectures in the form of ring or loop systems in which electricity can flow through alternative routes, thereby creating redundancies. If one line fails, supply can be maintained via other paths.

From Prof. Strunz’s perspective, the combination of improved protection of sensitive infrastructure and a more flexible, decentralized network structure represents a key building block for a future-proof energy system.

Watch the rbb report “Berlin strengthens protection for the power grid after attacks” of Mai 4th 2026 in German here:

https://www.rbb24.de/wirtschaft/beitrag/2026/05/stromnetz-berlin-netzsicherheit-anschlaege-wachschutz.html

Can Electric Vehicles Help Build a More Resilient Future for Energy Grids?

15. May 2026/by Emma Schreiber-Karaschewski

Join us on May 22 at 12:00 PM, for the next webinar in our GridTalks series.

In this session, Diego Fadranski, Head of the “Automated Driving and Charging” unit at Mobility2Grid, offers valuable insights into the future role of electric vehicles in decentralized and resilient energy systems.

As renewable energy sources continue to expand and public and individual mobility becomes increasingly electrified, new challenges arise for the stability of power grids. One promising solution is bidirectional charging — a technology that allows electric vehicles not only to consume electricity, but also to feed energy back into the grid when needed.

The webinar presents current research at Mobility2Grid on how electric vehicle batteries can stabilize power grids and provide emergency backup power for critical infrastructure. Alongside the technological potential of vehicle-to-grid solutions, the session will also address the regulatory, economic, and technical challenges that still need to be overcome.

Please click here to register:

https://events.tu-berlin.de/de/events/019e1c76-5fa8-781e-9700–94d2867ed1cf/apply

Diego Fadranski,
Head of the “Automated Driving and Charging” unit at Mobility2Grid.

Where the future takes shape: Germany’s engine of innovation showcases itself at re:publica 2026

30. April 2026/by Melanie Weis

From climate-neutral industry to new mobility solutions and global health research: Germany’s innovation clusters and research campuses are shaping the future of our society. At re:publica 2026, the cluster and campus initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) will showcase their success stories together for the first time.

At Mobility2Grid, we’re developing technologies for electric bus fleets and bidirectional charging that are already being used in Berlin’s transportation infrastructure today. But we’re not alone in Germany’s innovation engine room. In Freiburg, nanodiag BW is developing diagnostic methods capable of analyzing individual molecules—enabling the detection of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, or diabetes before symptoms appear. In the Rhineland, SupplHyInno is creating concrete technologies for a climate-neutral industry, such as hydrogen burners that are already in industrial use. And in the bioRN Life Science Cluster, an international research hub is emerging that bridges the translation gap and, with initiatives like XFem Labs, is providing new momentum in women’s health.

These research projects are not isolated cases, but rather a reflection of a broader system. At re:publica 2026, Germany’s innovation clusters and research campuses will showcase their success stories, because while there is much discussion about Germany’s capacity for innovation, it has long been taking place within the country’s innovation clusters and research campuses.
We are the workshops of change, because this is where scientific excellence is turned into concrete applications. We connect disciplines, pool expertise, and create the conditions for ideas to become solutions.

Together at re:publica 2026

From May 18 to 20, 2026, 22 cluster and campus initiatives of the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) will present themselves together for the first time at re:publica in Berlin under the theme “Germany’s Innovation Engine Room.”
The goal: to demonstrate how innovation actually takes shape in Germany—from new medications and energy-efficient AI to hydrogen technologies and new mobility concepts.

We invite you to visit our joint booth in Hall 3 of STATION Berlin. You’ll gain insights into specific projects and success stories from across Germany. The booth will be complemented by a panel discussion on May 20 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on the re:publica main stage, where representatives from politics and clusters will present Germany as an innovation hub through a networked system. Our Managing Director, Nina Weber, will also be speaking on stage. Click hear for the whole re:publica 2026 schedule.

Interested visitors and journalists are invited to schedule meetings and interviews with representatives of the cluster and campus initiatives in advance and at the re:publica booth during the event.

About the BMFTR’s Cluster and Campus Initiatives

The BMFTR’s cluster and campus initiatives combine scientific excellence, economic strength, and societal perspectives. Together, they form Germany’s innovation engine room and help accelerate the translation of research into practical applications and impact.

Represented at re:publica are 14 future clusters: CNATM, curATime, ETOS, MCube, nanodiag BW, NeuroSys, Ocean Technology Campus Rostock, PROXIDRUGS, QSense, QVLS-iLabs, SaxoCell, SEMECO, SupplHyInnoRhineland, ThWIC; as well as the four research campuses ARENA2036, FEN, Mobility2Grid, and OHLF, as well as four former leading clusters: Bavarian Biotech Cluster Development BioM, BioEconomy Cluster, bioRN Life Science Cluster, and elektromobilität süd-west.

Guest at Zukunftsorte Berlin — Der Podcast

19. February 2026/by Melanie Weis

Our managing director Nina Weber was a guest on the latest episode of the “Zukunftsorte Berlin” podcast.

She talks about the work of the Forschungscampus Mobility2Grid at the EUREF Campus Berlin and how electromobility, energy systems, and urban infrastructure can and must be intelligently linked. For over 13 years, with funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, we have been conducting research into integrating mobility into the grid, paving the way toward a climate-neutral city.

The focus is on topics such as bidirectional charging, intelligent charging infrastructure, micro smart grids, and cross-sector energy concepts.
We address key questions about the potential of electric mobility:
How can electric mobility contribute to grid stability?
And how can this strengthen the resilience of our (critical) infrastructure?

An exciting conversation about a wide range of topics. Click here for the german podcast episode.

Rethinking the role of municipal utilities: The path to becoming a future-ready energy service provider

4. February 2026/by Emma Schreiber-Karaschewski

Launched in December, our new webinar series GridTalks is now entering its second round. The series features expert discussions on the most pressing challenges and developments shaping the energy and mobility transition, from smart energy management and emerging storage technologies to concepts for actively involving citizens in the mobility transition.

On February 20, we will host the next webinar in the series, featuring Charlotte Ritter, Innovation & Venture Hub Lead at inno2grid. She will share insights into new business models for municipal utilities and energy supply companies (EVUs) in today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape. The session will explore why traditional commodity-based business models are increasingly reaching their limits and how the growing demand for energy services is creating new economic opportunities. Charlotte Ritter will also highlight successful decentralized and digital business models, the role of energy management systems, and the key success factors for development, market entry, and scaling.

Drawing on real-world examples, the webinar will explore how innovative business models can be systematically developed, tested, and translated into operational practice, helping municipal utilities remain competitive and future-ready in the long term.

The webinar will take place online via Zoom from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

Please use the following link to register.

https://events.tu-berlin.de/de/events/019c286b-0649–72ab-a75a-b8670c09f5ad/apply

Charlotte Ritter, Innovation & Venture Hub Lead, inno2grid GmbH

Winter-Blackout in Berlin: Interview with board member Prof. Strunz

21. January 2026/by Melanie Weis

The current taz article on the attack on Berlin’s power grid impressively shows how vulnerable critical infrastructure can be: In the depths of winter, tens of thousands of households are without power for days. In an interview, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kai Strunz (TU Berlin) emphasizes that there is “no such thing as absolute security.” It is therefore crucial to make power grids more robust — through decentralization, redundancies, and intelligent grid management, in order to better cushion outages and compensate for them more quickly.

This perspective is central to the Mobility2Grid research campus: Prof. Strunz is a member of the campus board and, with his area of expertise at TU Berlin, is actively involved in research on campus. In the interplay between the power grid, digitalization, and mobility, we are developing and testing solutions for a climate-neutral and crisis-proof energy supply in Berlin.

View the taz article here: https://taz.de/Anschlag-auf-Stromnetz-in-Berlin/!6142832/

Citizen‘s report on public transportation in 2045

21. January 2026/by Melanie Weis

Recommendations from Berlin planning cells on public transportation in 2045

What should public mobility in Berlin’s neighborhoods look like in 2045? This question cannot be answered solely through technical innovations, model calculations, or traffic planning concepts. It touches on fundamental aspects of urban quality of life, social justice, and daily mobility routines. Against this backdrop, in May 2025, the research campus integrated the perspectives of Berlin’s urban society into its research on future mobility.

From May 23 to 25, 2025, two research planning cells took place at the EUREF campus in Berlin-Schöneberg under the title:
“Less traffic – more mobility: The future of public transportation services in Berlin neighborhoods.” A total of 47 randomly selected Berliners took part in the process. The selection was made by random sampling from the population register in order to reflect as broad a spectrum of everyday experiences, life situations, and perspectives as possible.

Handover of the citizen‘s report “Less traffic – more mobility” on December 9 at the EUREF Campus in Berlin.

Planning cells as an established participation format

Planning cells are a deliberative participation format that has been tried and tested for decades, in which citizens are involved as “experts in everyday life” in a structured, moderated work process. The aim is not to seek majorities, but to develop well-founded, balanced assessments. Within a clearly defined period of time, participants receive expert input, discuss different scenarios, and develop them further.

For the Mobility2Grid research campus, planning cells are a key tool for reflecting scientific projections and scenarios against real-life everyday experiences. They make it possible to examine technological and systemic visions of the future at an early stage for their social viability, acceptance, and potential conflicts of interest.

The planning cells carried out were assigned to the topic of neo-mobility, which is developing scenarios for mobility and energy development in Berlin until 2045 at the research campus.

Procedure and thematic structure

Over three consecutive days, the participants worked in small groups and in plenary sessions. The discussions focused on four central topics that were identified as particularly influential for the future of mobility in Berlin:

Availability and accessibility of mobility options
Autonomous driving
Micromobility
Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS)

At the beginning, participants received technical assessments from experts in the field of research. The research team from the Technical University of Berlin then presented two selected projections for each topic area, describing different possible development paths for the year 2045. These projections served as a basis for discussion and were systematically analyzed, evaluated, and further developed by the participants.

The content of the planning cells was developed by several departments at the Technical University of Berlin, including the Department of Road Planning and Road Operations, the Department of Transportation Systems Planning and Transportation Telematics, and the Department of Work Studies/Technology and Participation. Neutral moderation and methodological support were provided by the nexus Institute for Cooperation Management and Interdisciplinary Research, which has many years of experience with deliberative participation processes.

Citizen‘s report as an interface between research, politics, and the public

The assessments and recommendations developed in the planning cells were summarized in a citizen‘s report. This report is made available to the Mobility2Grid research campus, the professional public, and political and administrative actors. It forms an important bridge between scientific scenario development, social perspectives, and future decision-making processes.

The citizen‘s report is available for download here: (only in german language available)

M2G_Bürgergutachten_Planungszelle_Weniger_Verkehr_mehr_Mobilität

Recom­men­da­ti­ons from Ber­lin plan­ning cells on public trans­por­ta­ti­on in 2045

Plan­ning cells as an estab­lished par­ti­ci­pa­ti­on format

Pro­ce­du­re and the­ma­tic structure

Citizen‘s report as an inter­face bet­ween rese­arch, poli­tics, and the public

Mobility2Grid bro­chu­re

Recommendations from Berlin planning cells on public transportation in 2045

Planning cells as an established participation format

Procedure and thematic structure

Citizen‘s report as an interface between research, politics, and the public

Mobility2Grid brochure