From cars to cash: how EVs could power your home

Australia’s vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology has reached an important milestone, with new hardware approvals removing a key barrier to wider adoption. 

As of April, three bidirectional EV chargers have been approved by the Clean Energy Council for installation anywhere in Australia: the newly listed StarCharge Halo, Infypower’s Numbat7 and the SigEnergy EV DC charging module.  

In parallel, NRMA members are already helping prove the value of V2G in practice. Through an ARENA-funded trial delivered with energy retailer Amber Electric and supported by the NRMA,  the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures and iMOVE CRC, 25 households – including 14 NRMA members – are now using their BYD Atto 3s to power their homes and support the grid, with more on the way. Amber’s wholesale market model allows customers to earn bill credits when their EV exports energy during periods of high demand.  

Early results are promising. One South Australian household earned around $700 in a single afternoon during a summer heatwave, while other participants in NSW are running at a significant bill credit.    

At a time when fuel costs continue to put pressure on household budgets, the trial is helping demonstrate that electric vehicles can do more than reduce running costs – they can actively generate value. With a waitlist of 5500 people, the trial has surfaced significant latent demand for the technology. 

The biggest barrier to scaling remains OEM warranties. Outside of trials (which are supported by OEMs) and a couple of exceptions, using a vehicle for V2G currently risks voiding the battery warranty. This will need to change for the technology to crack the mainstream.  

NRMA is supporting members to stay at the forefront of this transition, as Australia’s energy and transport systems become increasingly connected. 

To learn more and register interest, visit amber.com.au/v2x-hub.