Key points
- Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is legal and approved in Australia, but in October 2026 it’s still early: only a handful of bidirectional chargers are certified and few carmakers officially support it.
- Certified chargers so far include the V2Grid Numbat, Sigenergy’s SigenStor EV DC module and the StarCharge Halo. A bidirectional set-up has been reported at around $10,000 or more.
- Most homes using V2G today are in retailer trials run by Amber, AGL and Origin.
- For most households, a stationary home battery with the federal discount is still the simpler and cheaper way to store solar in 2026.
Vehicle-to-grid in Australia has moved from idea to reality, but only just. An EV battery holds 50–80 kWh, four to six times a typical home battery, and with the right charger it can power your home in the evening or sell energy back to the grid. This guide explains what V2G, V2H and V2L mean, which chargers and cars actually work in 2026, what the networks in SA and Victoria require, and whether it’s worth waiting for.
What’s the difference between V2G, V2H and V2L?
| Term | What it does | What you need | Availability in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| V2L (vehicle-to-load) | Powers appliances plugged into the car | A car with a V2L outlet or adaptor | Common on many Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Mitsubishi models |
| V2H (vehicle-to-home) | Powers your house from the car, cutting grid imports | Bidirectional charger, compatible car, network approval | Small numbers of home installs |
| V2G (vehicle-to-grid) | Also exports to the grid, often via a retailer or VPP | As above, plus a retailer offer that pays for exports | Mainly trials; first commercial offers emerging |
All three rely on the same idea: the car’s battery becomes part of your home energy system. If you’re working towards an all-electric home, V2G sits at the far end of the journey described in our home electrification guide. Most households start with charging their EV from rooftop solar, which captures much of the value with a standard charger.
Is vehicle-to-grid approved in Australia?
Yes. A bidirectional charger contains an inverter, so it’s treated like a solar or battery inverter. The inverter standard, AS/NZS 4777.2:2020, gained Amendment 2, which added clauses for EV chargers. Since 23 August 2025 the Clean Energy Council (CEC) has listed new inverters against the amended standard, and that’s how bidirectional chargers get onto its approved list. The CEC doesn’t keep a separate V2G list, so they appear among inverters.
Network approval is a separate step, and each distributor sets its own rules:
- South Australia: SA Power Networks treats a bidirectional charger like a home battery. The inverter must be on the CEC list and the charger on the SA Technical Regulator’s list, and you apply through its portal before installing. Combined battery and V2G inverter capacity is capped at 10 kVA per phase for small systems. From 1 July 2026, V2G chargers must also meet demand-response requirements (OCPP 2.1 and the upcoming AS 5438) and be on the Technical Regulator’s list before installation.
- Victoria: connections go through your distributor’s embedded generation process (CitiPower, Powercor, United Energy, Jemena or AusNet Services). Requirements are still evolving, so your installer should confirm them before you order hardware.
Where does CSIP-AUS fit in?
CSIP-AUS (Common Smart Inverter Profile – Australia) is the communications standard networks use to send dynamic export limits to inverters over the internet. SA requires it for new exporting solar inverters, but SA Power Networks currently exempts batteries and bidirectional chargers. Industry roundtables in 2026 have flagged that linking EV charger protocols (OCPP) with CSIP-AUS is still being worked through, which is one reason V2G rollouts are moving carefully.
Which bidirectional chargers are available in 2026?
| Charger | Type | Notes (as reported, October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| V2Grid Numbat | 7 kW DC, CCS2 and CHAdeMO | Reported as the first CEC-listed standalone bidirectional charger; pricing reported from around $10,000 plus GST |
| Sigenergy SigenStor EV DC charging module | DC module within a SigenStor system | Certified as part of Sigenergy’s hybrid inverter and battery system; suits homes building around SigenStor |
| StarCharge Halo | 7.4 kW bidirectional | Reported CEC listing in April 2026; used in Amber and Origin trials |
More products are expected as manufacturers finish testing. Always check the CEC’s current approved inverter list and your network’s requirements before buying, because a charger that isn’t listed can’t be connected.
Which EVs support V2G in Australia?
The charger is only half the story. The carmaker must allow the car to discharge through it, and stand behind the battery warranty when it does.
- CHAdeMO cars: the earlier Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV have supported bidirectional charging for years.
- CCS2 cars: most new EVs use CCS2. Models from BYD, Hyundai, Kia and Zeekr are being used in retailer trials, and BYD has provided warranty coverage for 50 cars in Amber’s trial. Support varies by model and software version, so check with the manufacturer.
- Tesla: Tesla hasn’t enabled V2G or V2H for its cars in Australia.
Tip: Before signing up to any V2G offer, get the carmaker’s position on your battery warranty in writing. Some trial operators have arranged this; a private install may not have it.
V2G trials you can join
- Amber: in May 2026 ARENA committed a further $13.6 million to expand Amber’s V2G program from 50 to 1,000 homes. Early data showed 25 active trial cars discharging 3,694 kWh over 30 days, with participants earning an average of $10.55 each from V2X activity in that period.
- AGL: a 2026 trial for up to 100 owners of eligible BYD, Hyundai, Kia and Zeekr models across Victoria, NSW, Queensland and SA, with subsidised chargers for the first 50.
- Origin: a bundled trial combining a BYD Atto 3, a StarCharge Halo bidirectional charger and a smart tariff.
Trial places, eligible cars and terms change quickly, so check with each retailer. The model is similar to a virtual power plant (VPP): the retailer controls when the car charges and discharges within limits you set, and pays you for exports during price spikes.
V2G vs a home battery: which makes more sense?
| Home battery | EV with V2G | |
|---|---|---|
| Usable storage | Typically 10–20 kWh | 50–80 kWh in the car (you’ll reserve some for driving) |
| Hardware cost | About $700–$1,300 per kWh before the federal discount | Bidirectional charger reported from about $10,000; a car you may already own |
| Federal discount | 6.8 STCs per usable kWh for installs to 31 December 2026 | None for the car’s battery or the charger |
| Available during the day | Always at home | Only when the car is parked and plugged in |
| Blackout backup | Common with the right inverter | Only with a V2H system designed for backup; many aren’t |
| Maturity | Mature, widely installed | Early; limited cars and chargers |
For a household that commutes by car, the EV is away when the solar surplus is biggest, so a stationary battery usually does more useful work. V2G makes most sense where the car is home most days, such as for retirees, shift workers or people working from home. If backup matters, read how solar batteries work in a blackout before assuming an EV can do the same job.
Should you wait for V2G?
You don’t need to put other upgrades on hold. The practical approach in 2026:
- If you’re buying an EV, favour models whose makers support bidirectional charging in Australia.
- Install a smart, solar-aware charger now. It captures most of the savings today.
- If you’re adding a battery, choose a system that can grow. Some platforms, such as Sigenergy’s, already integrate DC EV charging.
- Consider a trial if your car is eligible and you’re home during the day.
Pair that with a heat pump running on solar and you’re already using most of your midday generation at home, with or without V2G.
Frequently asked questions
Can my EV power my house in a blackout?
Only with a vehicle-to-home system designed to keep running when the grid goes down. Many bidirectional chargers in Australia are grid-tied and shut off in a blackout for safety, like a standard solar inverter. V2L can run a few appliances through an extension lead, but it isn’t connected to your home wiring.
Does V2G void my EV battery warranty?
It depends on the carmaker. Some have agreed to cover cars in specific trials, such as BYD in Amber’s program, and AGL says its trial won’t affect battery warranties. For a private install, check your warranty terms and ask the manufacturer in writing before discharging the car into your home or the grid.
How much can I earn from V2G?
Not a lot yet. In Amber’s trial, participants earned an average of about $10.55 each over 30 days in early 2026, though some price spikes paid much more. The bigger saving usually comes from powering your own home in the evening instead of buying peak-rate electricity.
Is V2G available in Victoria?
Yes, but mostly through trials such as AGL’s, which includes Victorian homes. A private install needs a CEC-listed bidirectional charger, a compatible car and approval from your distributor. Requirements differ between Victoria’s five electricity distributors, so check with your installer first.
V2G is coming, but solar, smart EV charging and a home battery do the heavy lifting today. Our Adelaide and Melbourne installers can design a solar battery system that leaves room to add EV charging later. Get a free quote.
Sources: SA Power Networks – Bidirectional and V2G charging on the network; Clean Energy Council – Inverter standards change; RACV – Bidirectional charging explained (Jun 2025); EV Infrastructure News – Amber V2G trial expands to 1,000 households (31 May 2026); carsales – AGL vehicle-to-grid trial for 2026. V2G products, listings and network rules are changing quickly; check the CEC list and your distributor before buying. Featured image: Raysonho / Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
