Eisenstadt, 11 September 2025. Forschung Burgenland has been awarded the VCÖ Mobility Prize for Burgenland. The award recognised the Car2Flex research project – Optimised Charging Management for a Company Fleet – which, by involving users, demonstrates how electric vehicles can actively contribute to the energy transition.
The Car2Flex project was carried out as part of the Green Energy Lab research initiative and funded by the Climate and Energy Fund.
Contribution to environmentally sustainable mobility
A prototype bidirectional DC charging station was developed for this purpose at the Burgenland University of Applied Sciences campus in Eisenstadt. This is a charging station that operates on direct current (DC) and can therefore charge electric vehicles much more efficiently than conventional alternating current charging stations. It not only enables the controlled charging of electric vehicles using photovoltaic power, but also allows energy to be fed back into the building or the grid. Intelligent algorithms coordinate charging times, grid requirements and mobility needs.
“With Car2Flex, we are demonstrating that electric mobility is more than just climate-friendly driving. It can become an active part of the energy system and make a significant contribution to stabilising the electricity grid and improving its efficiency,” explains project manager Christian Pfeiffer. Together with his project team – comprising Tanja Jurasszovich, Markus Puchegger, Lukas Gnam, Monika Millendorfer, Markus Schindler and Ina Tomaschitz – he is investigating the use of electric car batteries as flexible energy storage systems. The aim is to balance out fluctuations in renewable energy generation and establish electric cars as active elements within the energy system.
A key component of the project is the active involvement of users. Through various surveys, they were able to outline their usage requirements. “They had the opportunity to specify personal preferences, such as preferred charging limits or departure times, via the booking platform,” says Pfeiffer.
Contributing to the energy transition in Burgenland
The research findings not only yield technological innovations, but also provide important insights from the social sciences and the energy sector for practical implementation. Car2Flex thus offers scalable solutions for corporate fleets and contributes to the integration of renewable energy and the reduction of CO₂ emissions.
“We are proud that our research is strengthening Burgenland’s position as a pioneer in the sustainable energy sector. The VCÖ Mobility Award confirms that we have contributed to a groundbreaking solution through Car2Flex,” emphasises Marcus Keding, Managing Director of Forschung Burgenland.
The VCÖ Mobility Award is Austria’s largest competition for sustainable mobility and is presented in cooperation with the federal states and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB).
Photo credit: Burgenland State Media Service
