Stuttgart, May 6th 2026 – Electric vehicles charging automatically, securely, and grid-friendly – without a charging card, without manual approval, without central user management. What sounds like the future is already reality within the BMWE-funded research project DataFleX. 51nodes demonstrates together with TransnetBW and further partners how this works – with the “Wallet Charging” use case.
Charging with Digital Identity Instead of a Physical Card
In the Wallet Charging scenario, TransnetBW employees authenticate themselves at the charging point via an app and digital credentials. Authorizations are stored attribute-based: who may charge, at what power level and under what conditions – all governed by digital credentials, not physical cards or a central user management system. The charging process starts fully automatically once the credentials are verified.
51nodes was responsible for the technical integration and app development in this setup.
SSI: The Technology Behind Seamless Charging
The foundation is Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) – an approach in which digital identities are managed in a decentralized manner, without central data storage. Every party involved – whether person, vehicle, or charging point – can issue, hold, and verify Verifiable Credentials. This creates trust without data silos while meeting the requirements of modern identity standards such as eIDAS 2.0.
51nodes brings extensive experience with SSI solutions in the energy sector to this project. Since 2021, the Stuttgart-based company has been working together with TransnetBW to systematically explore the potential of digital identities for the grid industry – identifying more than ten concrete use cases in the process. Wallet Charging is now one of the first to be tested in real-world operation.
The Bigger Picture: DataFleX and the Future of Decentralized Flexibility
Wallet Charging is not a standalone project – it is a building block in an ambitious overall endeavor. DataFleX connects for the first time the previously isolated data ecosystems energy data-X and Catena-X, creating the foundation for cross-sector data exchange between energy, mobility, and heat. The goal is to make millions of decentralized assets – electric vehicles, heat pumps, home storage systems – available in a coordinated, market-based way for grid stability – an approach also discussed as Redispatch 3.0.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is funding the 18-month project with more than seven million euros. The consortium, led by TenneT Germany, brings together eight partners from the energy industry, IT, and research. The direct benefits are tangible: lower redispatch costs, more efficient grid expansion, better integration of renewable energies – and potentially lower grid fees for everyone.
Project Partners
The Wallet Charging setup was developed in close collaboration with Spherity (Business Wallet & Verifier), Fraunhofer IAO (charging backend), and Fraunhofer FIT as supporter – coordinated by TransnetBW.
Further Links:
DataFleX-Projekt
51nodes – DataFleX: 51nodes advances Digital Sector Coupling
TransnetBW – Forschungsprojekt DataFleX startet