How vehicle-to-grid (V2G) will work in Australia as it gears up for full-scale launch in 2027

EVs are more than just cars in Australia.

They can charge devices, power houses and even earn their owners money, as Australia's energy grid undergoes a once-in-a-generation transformation.

Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is the final step to fully unlock this potential for electric cars Down Under.

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V2G is a type of bi-directional charging, a technology that comprises vehicle-to-load (V2L), vehicle-to-home (V2H) and V2G.

It allows an electric car to use its battery to send its power back into the energy grid, rather than just power external devices, or charge home batteries.

Rooftop solar, of which Australia has some of the highest uptake in the world, can also be used to charge an EV effectively for free and transfer the stored electricity to the grid for pure profit, especially when an abundance of sunlight has home battery systems fully charged.

Many car manufacturer warranties do not support V2G use as they do not cover battery damage caused by third-party set-ups.

Rapidly transferring energy on incompatible vehicles can cause substantial wear on the battery and cause other safety issues. 

There is also debate about which safety protocols V2G should abide by in Australia as the tech faces regulatory hurdles.

The latest ISO 15118-20 protocol is deemed safer than the original ISO 15118-2 for example, but it will need longer to be fully implemented in Australia.

Manufacturers are starting to alter their warranties and are undergoing extensive trials for the technology with electricity providers. 

We are likely to see a full-scale uptake of V2G in Australia within the next couple of years, as regulatory approvals and car warranties catch up, but there is still work to do to make them safer and more efficient. 

Hyundai and Kia are expected to prepare major announcements for the tech within the next few months.

Some models already on sale with V2G capability may be able to use the technology via a software, such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, but it is unclear exactly which models will be eligible.

The federal government has shown a keen interest in V2G as part of its energy policy and has recently committed substantial investment towards establishing a network through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) which currently helps to fund other EV technologies like public DC fast chargers.