Australian electric vehicle (EV) owners could have access to cheaper electricity and gas following a new program designed to introduce vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging across the country.
Energy company AGL has launched a new national trial of bi-directional V2G technology in partnership with several automakers as it finalises plans to leverage government approval ahead of a potential rollout to customers in 2026.
Auto brands Hyundai, Zeekr, Kia and BYD are working with AGL during the trial, ensuring owners of vehicles from those brands used in testing will not have their warranties voided as a result.
Fifty electrified vehicles – including EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) – will be used as part of the testing over a 12-month period, with participants given a discounted bi-directional charger that will give them the opportunity to reduce their power bills.
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A further 50 places are available for additional participants who already have or are willing to purchase AGL-approved charging equipment.
V2G technology refers to the ability of electrified vehicles to feed power back into the electricity grid. In this case participating owners will receive a credit from AGL towards their future energy bills, including both power and gas.
V2G goes a step beyond vehicle-to-home (V2H) charging tech, which also provides a safety net in the event of electricity blackouts by allowing vehicles to power homes or otherwise.
“Unlocking the potential of car batteries is a game changer for owners, by allowing them to reduce their energy usage costs, and for the broader community by contributing to grid stability during periods of peak energy demand,” AGL head of innovation and strategy, Renae Gasmier, said in a statement.
Mitsubishi became the first car company in Australia to have its vehicles legally permitted to perform V2G charging, with its Outlander and Eclipse Cross PHEVs given the green light in May 2024.
AGL says participants in this new trial – and other users when the system is rolled out post-trial – can choose to charge their vehicles during off-peak times when energy costs are lower, saving on charging costs.
They can also earn ‘peak export credits’ towards their energy account when feeding power back to the grid in specified periods of high demand.
The AGL software also enables users to tell the system what time they want to charge their vehicle, and when they need the car ready with a full charge for driving.
“Electric vehicles can store five times more energy than a typical home battery, a huge untapped resource sitting in our driveways,” said Julie Delvecchio, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council.
“With around 350,000 EVs already on Australian roads the potential is extraordinary and trials like this will help turn this opportunity into reality.”
EV sales in Australia have increased marginally in 2025, making up 7.6 per cent of all new vehicles sold to the end of August.
The Tesla Model Y mid-size SUV remains the nation’s best-selling EV so far this year, however, the BYD Sealion 7 – launched in February as a direct competitor – has beaten the Model Y on multiple occasions in monthly sales.
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