Energy Tips, Solar & Renewables
The Complete Guide to V2G: How Your EV Can Give Back to the Grid and Your Wallet
Learn how bidirectional charging lets your EV give back to the grid, and rewards you for it.
- What Answers You’ll Get On This Page
Important Points
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V2G allows your electric vehicle to both charge and discharge energy, meaning it can supply power back to the grid during periods of high usage.
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It offers potential savings on electricity bills, environmental benefits, and support for a more stable, renewable-powered grid.
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Only a few EV models currently support V2G in Australia, such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, with more on the way.
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V2G is still in its early stages in Australia, with limited availability through specific networks like SA Power Networks and Ausgrid, often requiring special inverters and requirements.
Australia is no stranger to electric vehicles (EVs), but there’s a powerful new technology emerging: Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G). This isn’t just about driving electric, it’s about turning your EV into a dynamic energy asset. With the right setup, your vehicle can help power your home, lower your electricity bills, and even send energy back to the grid during times of high demand.
So, how does it work? Let’s break it down.
What Is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)?
To understand Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G), we need to break down the broader concept of bidirectional charging.
Unlike traditional EV charging, where electricity flows in just one direction, from the grid to your car, bidirectional charging enables energy to flow both ways. This means your electric vehicle (EV) can not only charge but also discharge electricity back into a home, building, or even the main grid.
In practice, this turns your EV into a mobile energy asset in a sense, capable of shifting electricity demand or even acting like a generator under certain circumstances. This opens up exciting opportunities to reduce electricity costs, reduce strain on the grid, and make better use of renewable energy.
There are three main types of bidirectional charging to know about, each with different capabilities and benefits:
Vehicle to Grid (V2G):
V2G allows an electric vehicle to discharge power back into the electricity grid. In this setup, the EV connects to a charging station that synchronises with the grid’s AC frequency. This means your car can export power at times of high demand or even help the grid in emergencies.
Some households may also use V2G in a more limited way, such as exporting only during peak hours or maximising the use of rooftop solar generation.
It’s important to note that while bidirectional charging and V2G are often used interchangeably, they’re not quite the same. Bidirectional charging refers broadly to two-way energy flow, charging the EV and discharging energy back out. V2G is a specific application of this technology, where energy is sent back into the electricity grid. Think of bidirectional charging as the umbrella, and V2G as one powerful use case under it.
Vehicle to Home (V2H):
With V2H, your EV powers your home or building without interacting with the grid. These systems are electrically separated from the main grid and can operate independently during blackouts or peak periods.
The EV, along with the compatible charger, creates and maintains its own stable supply of electricity. Think of it like a kind of mobile battery system for your home.
Vehicle to Load (V2L):
V2L is the most straightforward form of bidirectional charging. It allows your EV to directly power standalone appliances, like a fridge, kettle, or even tools at a campsite.
In this case, the electricity flows from the EV’s battery to the appliance without needing to synchronise with the grid’s frequency.
1Where is V2G Currently Offered?
The following is a list of distributors currently supporting V2G technology, along with the eligibility requirements for both consumers and installers.
Note: As V2G technology evolves, additional requirements or approvals may be introduced, so it’s important to stay up to date with the latest guidelines from your local distributor.
South Australia: SA Power Networks
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Use a certified bidirectional inverter compliant with SA Power Networks’ Embedded Generation standards.
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Total site battery capacity (EV + home batteries) must remain below 30 kVA per site and 10 kVA per phase.
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You must apply through the SmartApply portal before installation; auto-approval is issued if technical criteria are met. Installation must then be finalised via SmartInstall
Ausgrid (Sydney, Central Coast, Hunter):
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V2G EV chargers on its network are allowed under the same rules as solar installations.
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V2G systems must comply with the AS/NZS4777.2 standard and be listed on the Clean Energy Council’s Approved Inverter List.
Essential Energy (regional NSW):
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Interested users must join active V2G pilot programs to participate.
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To connect a V2G system to the Essential Energy network, your accredited solar installer or licensed electrician must follow the standard connection process used for solar and battery systems. For details specific to your setup, speak directly with your installer or electrician.
How Can V2G Benefit Me?
The most well-known and valued benefit is the potential financial reward. While there are reports of consumers saving hundreds of dollars through V2G, it’s still too early to tell what the actual savings figures are.
A key part of the financial incentive comes from energy arbitrage, which means charging your EV when electricity prices are low, like during off-peak hours or from your solar panels, and then using or selling that stored energy back during costly peak periods. For many EV owners, this means smarter energy management and potential savings.
According to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a growing number of consumers are already enthusiastic about the technology, and some are even holding off on buying an EV until bidirectional charging becomes widely available.
V2G also helps the grid. By charging during the day when solar is abundant and discharging during high demand, EVs can reduce strain on the grid and help keep costs down for everyone. During blackouts or emergencies, they can even power a home or serve as a mobile generator.
A lot of people are drawn to V2G because it gives you more control over your energy use, helps reduce your carbon footprint, and lets you take part in the latest clean energy tech. Plus, with government incentives and the fact that your car doubles as both a means of transportation and energy storage, it’s a future-proofed, scalable system that can provide significant benefits for all users involved.
3What EV Models Are Currently V2G Eligible?
As of early 2025, the only car models that support V2G are Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV, and only one charger, the Wallbox Quasar 1, is approved in Australia.
Globally, there are 33 electric vehicle models, either currently available, publicly announced, or demonstrated. that support bidirectional charging capabilities, as detailed in the table below.
Source: National Bidirectional Charging Roadmap: Background Paper. Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
4Australia’s V2G Progress: What’s Holding Us Back?
Most major electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are actively developing bidirectional charging capabilities. In fact, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), there’s been a noticeable shift across the industry over the past two years, from one-off technology demonstrations to early-stage development of mass-market solutions and pilot programs (like we’ve seen recently in New South Wales).
In particular, there’s growing momentum around Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) for residential customers, while markets like the U.S. have also seen strong emphasis on Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) applications.
However, Australia risks falling behind global leaders like the United States and Europe when it comes to bidirectional EV technology. One of the main reasons is market size. As a smaller market, Australia isn’t always a top priority for global automakers, who are more likely to launch and scale their new technologies in larger EV markets.
There’s also the issue of product certification. International car brands tend to prioritise “homologation”, which is the process of adapting and certifying vehicles for specific national standards¹. This slows down the arrival of compatible vehicles and bidirectional charging equipment in Australia.
Despite this, there’s strong optimism among energy and transport stakeholders that Australia could carve out a leadership role in this space, just as it has done with rooftop solar and home battery integration.
As a matter of fact, Australia holds several key advantages over other countries, including high residential solar uptake and a growing share of electric vehicles. In regions with competitive electricity markets (such as outside Western Australia and regional Queensland), consumers can access tariff structures that incentivise EV charging.
If Australia can build a clear and attractive value proposition for consumers, it could drive early uptake and encourage manufacturers to bring more V2G- and V2H-enabled products to our shores.
Four main factors are expected to shape how quickly Aussies gain access to a supply of bidirectional EVs and EV charging infrastructure:
1. Government Policy and Incentives
Supportive legislation and financial incentives will be used to encourage both consumers and manufacturers to invest in V2G-ready technology.
2. Market Size and Consumer Demand
The more compelling the benefits are for Australian drivers, the more likely we’ll see faster adoption and product availability.
3. Clear and Efficient Regulations
A stable, transparent, and efficient process for product approvals and standards will be critical to removing bottlenecks.
4. Vehicle and Charger Availability
Ultimately, supply depends on how global manufacturers respond to Australia’s demand, which ties back to the three factors above.
Author
Benjamin TomBenjamin is a utility specialist passionate about creating informative content about the energy, internet, and solar markets. With extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, Benjamin drives our unique blog posts, articles, and reviews. He is focused on breaking down the technical jargon so our readers can better understand the telco market and industry. Whether he is comparing the latest internet deals or creating unique guides, Benjamin takes great pride in creating helpful, easy-to-read content.
Sources:
¹GreenPower, “How much does GreenPower cost?”, July 2025, https://www.greenpower.gov.au/get-greenpower/how-much-does-greenpower-cost
²GreenPower, “Q1 2025 GreenPower Quarterly Report,” July 2025, https://www.greenpower.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-06/Q1%202025%20-%20GreenPower%20Quarterly%20Report%20FINAL.pdf
