Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging allows electric vehicles to not only draw power from the grid but also send it back. It’s known as bidirectional charging and is an emerging technology helping Australia move toward a more flexible, renewable energy future.
Imagine a world where your car doesn’t just take power from the grid; it gives it back. That’s the promise of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging, a new way to think about energy that’s changing how Australians charge, store, and share power.
V2G technology turns electric vehicles into more than a mode of transport. It transforms them into mobile energy resources that can help balance demand, support renewables, and unlock new ways to save.
What Is Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)?
Diagnosing the problem: Through our technical control over both sites, session insights via CORE and Illuminate, and our dedicated team of technicians and software engineers, JET Charge was able to diagnose the problem swiftly and with minimal disruption to bus service.
V2G, short for Vehicle-to-Grid, allows electricity to flow both ways between an EV and the grid. Instead of only drawing power to recharge, your EV can return electricity when it’s needed most, whether that’s for your home, local network, or community.
Think of it as your EV becoming part of Australia’s energy ecosystem. When demand rises, it can supply power back. When supply is plentiful, it recharges again. Smart software ensures energy flows efficiently and safely without you lifting a finger.
There are a few key variations of this technology:
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X): Connecting vehicles into a broader smart-energy network.
Vehicle-to-Load (V2L): Use your EV’s battery to run tools, appliances, or camping gear.
Vehicle-to-Home (V2H): Your EV helps power your household.
How V2G Charging Works
V2G creates a two-way energy relationship between your vehicle, charger, and the grid. When your car is plugged in, it can either charge or discharge depending on what your home or the network needs at that moment. Smart energy management software decides when to store and when to share, ensuring energy flows are timed for efficiency, cost, and reliability.
To make this possible, a few key components need to work together:
- A compatible EV that supports bidirectional charging. Only a few models currently do, such as the Nissan LEAF and select Mitsubishi plug-in hybrids, but more are on the way.
- A bidirectional charger that allows power to move in both directions, unlike standard one-way units.
- Smart software and an energy provider that can support V2G connections and manage communication between your charger, vehicle, and the grid.
When these elements align, your EV becomes more than a means of transport. It becomes an active part of Australia’s clean energy transition, storing renewable power when it’s abundant and returning it when demand is high.
Why V2G Matters
V2G has the potential to reshape how we think about energy, creating benefits for individuals, businesses, and the entire grid.
Grid Stability
By supporting electricity demand during peak times, V2G reduces strain on the network and helps prevent outages.
Renewable Integration
V2G helps capture and use more renewable energy, storing solar power during the day and returning it when the sun sets.
Cost Savings
Drivers and fleet owners could reduce energy costs or even earn credits by supplying stored energy back to the grid.
Smarter Fleets & Businesses
V2G gives businesses new ways to manage energy use, lower operating costs, and demonstrate sustainability leadership.
V2G in Australia and What Comes Next
V2G is real, but it is still emerging. Across Australia, trials are proving how EVs can support the grid while giving drivers more control over their energy use.
At JET Charge, we have been helping bring these projects to life. We led the technology rollout for the Realising Vehicle-to-Grid Services (REVS) Trial in the ACT, one of the world’s largest V2G pilots, and partnered with South Australia Power Networks, Mitsubishi, and Wallbox to introduce bidirectional charging to Australian homes.
Each project shows what is possible when energy and mobility work together. And the momentum is building. More V2G-ready vehicles are entering the market, and new hardware launches will soon make bidirectional charging more accessible for homes, fleets, and businesses across the country.
JET Charge continues to lead the charge in preparing for this next phase, designing, installing, and managing the infrastructure that will help V2G become a practical part of everyday charging.
Putting It All Together
V2G is about more than innovation. It is about empowerment, giving drivers, installers, and communities the tools to take part in Australia’s renewable transition.
The future of EV charging is not just about driving. It is about giving power back. And at JET Charge, we are building the infrastructure to make that future possible.
Ready to explore what V2G could mean for you?