Bidirectional EV chargers promise to play an important role not only for electric vehicle (EV) owners but for Australia’s evolving energy landscape, with the potential to do more than just keep your EV topped up.
This technology – which has the ability to soak up surplus rooftop solar energy into an EV battery during the day and then either use it to power the home’s appliances, or discharge to the grid, at night – offers a powerful way to integrate renewable energy, increase grid resilience, and significantly reduce household energy costs.
Bidirectional EV chargers are transforming how Australians use and store electricity, enabling Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) technology. These next-generation chargers do more than just power your EV,
By charging your EV with surplus rooftop solar during the day and discharging energy to power your home or support the grid, V2G and V2H play a crucial role in integrating renewable energy, increasing grid resilience, and lowering household energy costs. As Australia accelerates its transition to cleaner energy solutions, bidirectional charging is emerging as a key innovation.
But how does this technology actually work?
What is a Bidirectional EV Charger?
At its core, a bidirectional EV charger enables two-way energy flow. Unlike traditional EV chargers that only send electricity from the grid or your solar system into your vehicle, bidirectional chargers can also send energy back from the EV to power your home (Vehicle-to-Home, or V2H) or to feed the electricity grid (Vehicle-to-Grid, or V2G). The technology is a level-up from Vehicle-to-Load (V2L), which is already available in numerous electric cars in Australia and can be used to power external devices and appliances.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Use Your EV as a Home Battery
V2H allows your electric vehicle to function like a home battery, storing excess solar energy during the day and supplying it to your home at night. This reduces reliance on grid electricity and helps cut down household energy costs.
Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G): Support the Grid & Earn Money
V2G enables EV owners to send stored energy back to the grid, helping to stabilise supply during peak demand. Some energy companies offer incentives or credits for participating in V2G programs, making it a potential source of passive income.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L): Power Devices Directly from Your EV
V2L is a more basic version of bidirectional charging, allowing EV owners to power external devices like camping gear, tools, or emergency appliances. This feature is ideal for off-grid adventures or power outages.
With growing support from energy regulators and automakers, bidirectional charging is becoming an increasingly viable option for Australian EV owners.
Bidirectional EV Chargers Available in Australia (2025)
With progress in Australian electrical standards and growing industry interest, the market for bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) chargers is beginning to take shape. A number of brands have announced products either already available to order, in use through exemptions, or confirmed for release this year. However, as reported by Rachel Williamson in The Driven (April 2025), most bidirectional chargers are still going through Clean Energy Council (CEC) approval, and many remain in trial or R&D stages.
The landscape is best understood by breaking it into two parts: confirmed charger models with Australian relevance, and the broader regulatory and market context affecting their rollout.
Confirmed or Announced V2G Chargers in 2025
The chargers listed below have been either demonstrated in local trials, approved under exemptions (such as in South Australia), or officially confirmed by providers for the Australian market this year. While not all have received full CEC certification, they are at varying stages of deployment readiness.
| Charger | Provider | Size | Connector | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SigenStor 5-in-1 Home ESS | Sigenergy | Up to 25kW (EV-dependent) | CCS2 | Available now; tested with NSW networks |
| Numbat | V2Grid | 7kW (R&D on 22kW and 40kW models) | CHAdeMo & CCS2 | 7kW version available for order |
| Ambibox | RedEarth | 11kW (three-phase) | CCS2 | A three-phase charger will be released in Australia in July, and a single-phase version will come later in the year |
| Wallbox Quasar 2 | Wallbox | 12kW | CHAdeMo & CCS2 | The CHAdeMo version is already approved in South Australia via an exemption to national inverter standards. It’s unclear when the CCS2 version will be brought to Australia |
| Halo | Starcharge | 11kW | TBD | Confirmed for first half of 2025 |
Note: Full CEC certification is still pending for most chargers. Testing for compatibility with EV models and local grid operators is required before full deployment.
Certification Status & Industry Outlook
While these chargers represent the leading edge of V2G deployment in Australia, the bidirectional charger market remains in early stages. Many companies are still navigating compliance hurdles, grid testing, and global standardisation.
Some international brands, including SolarEdge, Autel, and Enphase, have paused or delayed their V2G product launches for the Australian market. Others, like Ocular and Ford, are developing solutions but have not confirmed firm release dates.
In the short term, most Australian EV owners relying on bidirectional charging will depend on third-party chargers undergoing phased testing and certification.
V2G-Compatible Electric Vehicles in Australia (Tested List)
While several bidirectional chargers are becoming available, not all electric vehicles (EVs) are ready to support V2G functionality. Compatibility depends on the EV’s onboard systems, connector type (typically CCS2 or CHAdeMO), and manufacturer support.
Recent testing by RedEarth Energy Storage has provided the most comprehensive view yet of which models are V2G-capable. The following table shows test results for major brands and models, including whether they successfully supported bidirectional discharge and their maximum discharge rates where available.
As Australia moves toward CCS2 as the default plug standard, CHAdeMO support is expected to gradually phase out. Buyers should consider CCS2-compatible vehicles and chargers to ensure future-proof access to V2G services.
RedEarth Tested Vehicles Compatibility Table:
Source: RedEarth Energy Storage.
Note: While bidirectional charging may work with the tested EVs, many manufacturers have not yet updated warranty terms to support battery discharge for V2G purposes. Owners should confirm warranty conditions before participating in V2G programs.
Australia’s bidirectional charger market is growing but remains at an early stage of rollout.
While a handful of chargers are now available for order and a broader set of EVs show V2G potential, consumers must still navigate compatibility checks, certification timelines, and manufacturer warranty conditions.
The next 12–24 months are expected to bring significant progress as new standards are adopted and more EV models and chargers achieve full interoperability.
Pros & Cons of Bidirectional Charging
Bidirectional chargers offer numerous benefits:
- Energy Independence: Store excess energy produced by your rooftop solar panels during sunny days for use in darker hours, when you may need it more.
- Backup Home Power: Keep the lights on during outages by using your EV as a mobile battery.
- Blackout Risk Mitigation: In a world first, V2G technology was used to send energy from EVs parked in Canberra to the grid to assist in a major blackout event in Victoria that saw 500,000 homes without power.
- Grid Participation: Energy companies can offer incentives to encourage you to sell stored electricity in your EV battery back to the grid, offsetting your energy bills.
- Cost Savings: Take advantage of cheaper electricity rates by charging at off-peak times.
However, there are also challenges associated with bidirectional EV charging:
- High Initial Cost: The first V2G charger available in Australia, the Quasar Wallbox, cost $10,000 – about as much as a home energy storage battery. While this version is no longer available, the price was certainly a deterrent in South Australia where the technology was first regulated.
- Carmaker Preparedness: Some carmakers have confirmed that their vehicles are V2G ready but that they will need to make changes to their warranties and update software to be able to officially offer the tech to owners. Other carmakers say the hardware is not yet in the vehicles.
- Complex Regulations: Despite significant regulatory updates in late 2024 aimed at standardizing and facilitating bidirectional EV charging, complexities remain. Australia’s energy authorities introduced new standards to better integrate bidirectional chargers, streamlining the approval process and clarifying compliance requirements for consumers and installers. Nonetheless, navigating grid connection requirements, varying state-level feed-in tariffs, and evolving rules for grid participation still require careful consideration.
- Battery Wear Concerns: There have been some concerns that increased battery cycling may potentially shorten battery lifespan. However BYD’s Marc Harland said that BYD does not see this being an issue at the Everything Electric Home Energy & Electric Vehicle expo in Sydney in March.
Cost of Bidirectional Chargers in Australia
As mentioned above, bidirectional EV chargers are not cheap, with initial versions of the Wallbox model starting at around $10,000 and later expected this year around $6,000. Compared to standard home EV charger costs, it’s no drop in the ocean.
However, as new V2G chargers hit the Australian market in 2025 and competition increase, we can expect these prices to drop further. Final costs will depend on factors like brand, special features, installation complexity, and whether there are any government incentives available to sweeten the deal.
Also important to understand is the difference between DC and AC V2G chargers, as we explain below.
DC vs AC Bidirectional Chargers: What’s the difference?
DC-coupled V2G chargers
DC-coupled bidirectional EV chargers take power directly from your car’s battery (which is DC), sending it straight to an external inverter that converts it into AC power for your home or the grid. These systems are highly efficient since there’s just one power conversion involved, making them a great fit if you’ve already got solar panels or battery storage. The downside is that they’re usually more expensive and trickier to install due to the extra equipment.
AC-coupled V2G chargers
AC V2G chargers, on the other hand, use your car’s built-in inverter to convert DC battery power into AC right there inside the vehicle. This means the system is simpler and often cheaper to set up—much like installing a regular home EV charger. However, one limitation here is that the EV manufacturer would then be responsible for ensuring their AC charger is compatible with all the different rules and regulations in each market around the world – which will slow down the process.
Installing a Bidirectional Charger at Home
Installing a bidirectional charger involves several important steps:
- EV Compatibility Check: First, confirm with your carmaker that your electric vehicle supports bidirectional charging.
- Electrical Infrastructure: Assess whether your home runs on single-phase or three-phase power. Single-phase is common in residential homes, but three-phase can handle higher power and may be necessary for some chargers.
- Grid Approval: Securing approval from your energy provider and meeting regulatory requirements, especially important for V2G systems that actively interact with the grid. A good electrician versed in EV technology should be able to assist you here.
- Solar Integration: To maximise renewable energy benefits and reduce costs, integrating the charger with your home’s solar system is highly recommended. This setup allows your EV battery to store excess solar energy during the day for later use, cutting down reliance on grid electricity and significantly lowering your long-term energy expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can any EV use a bidirectional charger?
Is bidirectional charging available in Australia?
Which electric cars in Australia support V2G?
Why are bidirectional EV chargers expensive?
Can V2L power a house?
Does Tesla support bidirectional charging in Australia?
How much does a bidirectional EV charger cost in Australia?
With the Australian market and policy actively pivoting to vehicle-to-grid technology, bidirectional EV chargers are almost here, ready to transform not just how we power our vehicles, but how we engage with our homes and the grid itself.
As a co-organizer of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum, Bridie is actively involved in EV advocacy and community engagement. She also owns a Tesla Model Y.
- Bidirectional EV Chargers Explained: V2G, V2H & V2L in Australia (2025 Guide) - 22 April, 2025
- How much does it cost to charge an EV in Australia? - 5 February, 2025
- How many solar panels do you need to charge an EV in Australia? - 4 February, 2025
