The future of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) in Australia

Canberra continues to charge forward, officially going live with its world first project that demonstrates how V2G services can be technically and economically viable in Australia.

The ACT Government welcomed the Realising Electric Vehicles to Grid Services (REVS) trial in 2020 as part of the Government's commitment to an electric vehicle fleet and 100% renewable electricity for the ACT.

This nation leading trial used a fleet of 51 Nissan Leaf vehicles to explore the ability of electric vehicles to provide additional support to the national energy grid.

Building on the knowledge of early international trials which tested parts of V2G services, the REVS project included several Australia-first initiatives which have been vital in uncovering the barriers and potential solutions for the use of this technology within Australia.

The REVS project introduced the first bi-directional charger approved for use in Australia. This technology allows the electric vehicle to send power from the car’s battery back into Canberra’s electricity grid for use by other devices.

This will be beneficial during times of peak power usage (e.g. heatwave events) as a way of balancing renewable energy delivered to the grid, meaning fewer power shortages and a more efficient energy grid.

The REVS project was co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and the ACT Government and led by ActewAGL Retail in partnership with Evoenergy, Nissan, Jetcharge, SG Fleet, the Australian National University and Accenture.

The ACT Government remains committed to reducing transport emissions to create a healthier and more sustainable future for the ACT. Transport is the single largest contributor to the Territory’s greenhouse gas emissions, making up over 60% of the total.

There are supports available to Canberrans looking to purchase an EV for their home or business. This includes zero-interest loans as part of the Sustainable Household Scheme and a dedicated Business Fleet Advisory Service to support Canberra businesses and community organisations with transitioning their fleets to ZEVs.