Beating the blockade with EVs and batteries – with Gautham Ram and Ruben Valiente

As global energy markets face renewed volatility – from
geopolitical flashpoints to supply disruptions – a key question
is back in focus: how do we deliver energy security when
fossil-fuel supply is no longer guaranteed?


In this episode, we explore how flexibility – powered by EVs and
batteries – is emerging as a frontline solution to energy
security challenges.


First, Gautham Ram (TU Delft) changes the narrative on EVs as a
grid liability. Instead, he outlines how millions of electric
vehicles could act as a vast, distributed storage network,
effectively turning transport into a strategic energy asset.


From smart charging to V2G, we explore how intelligent
coordination – and not just new infrastructure – can ease grid
congestion, absorb renewable generation, and reduce reliance on
imported fuels. We also unpack the use cases driving AC vs. DC
charging, bidirectional technology, and battery lifetimes – and
why scaling these solutions will depend on standards,
interoperability, and consumer confidence.


Then, live from the Battery & Business Development Forum 2026
in Frankfurt, Ruben Valiente of Maxxen Energy shares a
ground-level view of Europe’s rapidly expanding battery storage
market.


His message is timely: while battery cells remain dominated by
global supply chains, Europe’s strength lies in system
integration, local engineering, and getting projects deployed
rapidly. As markets grapple with uncertainty, new approaches like
vendor-backed financing are helping to de-risk investments and
accelerate deployment, which is absolutely critical in these
moments when resilience is thrown into question.


With EV fleets increasingly acting as mobile energy reserves and
utility-scale batteries stabilizing grids, this episode connects
the dots across a rapidly evolving storage landscape and shows
how, in an era of disruption, flexibility may be the ultimate
hedge against energy insecurity.


With a focus on smarter inverters and the power of distributed
energy systems, this episode looks at how solar is redefining
energy security – and why resilience may be its most
important role yet.


️ Questions or feedback? Write us at
podcast@thesmartere.com