EV charging is no longer only about selling kilowatt-hours. As grid capacity becomes tighter, electricity prices more volatile, and flexibility markets more mature, Charge Point Operators have a new strategic question to answer: can charging infrastructure become a flexible energy asset? 

In this episode of the Charge Point Podcast, Christophe speaks with Lars Herre, Flexibility Portfolio Lead at Fortum, about demand response, flexibility, V2G, batteries, and the role CPOs can play in the future energy system. 

Lars brings a rare combination of technical depth and market perspective. His background spans electrical engineering, power systems research, energy market modelling, and venture-building around aggregation and EV flexibility. In the conversation, he explains how demand response can help customers electrify while preventing the grid from running into limits — and why CPOs should start preparing now, even if the business case does not always feel urgent today. 

Together, we explore what it means to move beyond kilowatt-hours. For CPOs, flexibility can become a way to reduce energy costs, manage peak loads, delay or avoid grid upgrades, integrate batteries and local renewables, and eventually participate in flexibility markets or Virtual Power Plants. But this is not just a technology story. It is also about regulation, forecasting, standardisation, customer experience, and knowing how much flexibility can be activated without disappointing drivers. 

Lars also shares his view on what has changed in recent years: greater awareness of electricity price volatility, the rise of flexibility players, the growing relevance of dynamic tariffs, regulation that is ambitious but often slow in implementation, and the fact that V2G is increasingly moving from vision to real-world partnerships. 

What you will learn 

In this episode, you will learn: 

• Why demand response is becoming increasingly relevant for CPOs  
• How a charging site can become a flexible energy asset  
• Why selling kilowatt-hours may not be enough as the market matures  
• How flexibility can help manage grid constraints and peak demand  
• Why driver experience must remain the first priority  
• What role batteries, V2G and Virtual Power Plants could play in CPO profitability  
• Why pilots should be designed with scale, standardisation and automation in mind  
• How CPOs can prepare today for a more grid-interactive future  

Key topics discussed 

• Demand response and EV charging  
• Flexibility as a new value pool for CPOs  
• Grid constraints and electrification  
• Dynamic tariffs and energy price volatility  
• Battery Energy Storage Systems at charging sites  
• Vehicle-to-Grid and bidirectional charging  
• Virtual Power Plants and aggregation  
• Flexibility markets and reserve markets  
• The balance between monetisation and driver experience  
• Regulation, market access and implementation barriers  
• What CPOs need to future-proof their charging portfolios  

Guest 

Lars Herre, Flexibility Portfolio Lead at Fortum, formerly part of the Hiven.energy team, a Fortum venture. 

Lars works at the intersection of electrification, power systems and flexibility. His mission is to help customers electrify while avoiding unnecessary pressure on the grid - turning uncontrollable loads into flexible assets that can create value for customers and support the wider energy system. Connect with him now: linkedin.com/in/larsherre/

Why this episode matters for CPOs 

For many CPOs, profitability is still closely tied to utilisation, location, pricing and operational efficiency. But the next layer of value may come from how intelligently charging assets interact with the grid. 

Flexibility will not replace the core business of charging drivers, but it can strengthen it. It can help CPOs reduce costs, improve site resilience, make better use of limited grid capacity, and open new revenue opportunities. The key message from this episode is clear: CPOs do not need to capture every flexibility revenue stream tomorrow — but they do need to build the capability today. 

The future CPO will not only operate chargers. It will operate intelligent, flexible, grid-interactive assets. 

Listen now 

Tune in to Episode 52 of the Charge Point Podcast to understand why flexibility could become one of the most important value pools for the next generation of CPOs. 

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