Amber has announced a major expansion of its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) program, growing from an initial pilot to 1,000 Australian homes in what is being described as the nation’s largest residential V2G rollout.
Backed by $13.6 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the project aims to demonstrate how electric vehicles can become active energy assets, allowing households to power their homes, store excess solar energy and export electricity back to the grid.
The expanded trial builds on Amber’s earlier 50-home V2G pilot conducted in partnership with BYD and comes amid growing consumer interest, with almost 6,000 Australians reportedly joining the V2G waitlist.
For fleet operators monitoring developments in bidirectional charging, the project represents another step towards unlocking the broader value of EV batteries beyond transportation. While the current rollout focuses on residential customers, the lessons learned around battery management, warranties, energy trading and grid integration could have future implications for commercial fleets.
Amber Co-CEO Chris Thompson said the technology had moved beyond the proof-of-concept stage.
“Our initial rollout proved it works. 1,000 homes proves it scales,” said Thompson.
“We’ve already seen a South Australian customer earn $500 in a single afternoon during a heatwave. Customers can now save thousands annually through V2G. This expansion positions Australia as a world leader in V2G, and we see a future where millions of Australians buying EVs in the next few years can do the same.”
Unlike traditional energy plans, Amber’s model combines wholesale electricity pricing with automated charging and discharging controls designed to maximise the value of stored energy. Customers can choose whether to use their EV battery to power their home, store rooftop solar generation or export electricity back to the grid during periods of high demand.
A key milestone for the industry is BYD’s decision to maintain vehicle warranties for customers participating in the trial. Warranty concerns have been widely viewed as one of the major barriers to broader V2G adoption.
Stephen Collins, Chief Operating Officer at BYD Australia, said the initiative aligns with the company’s broader energy strategy.
“BYD’s foundations are built on innovation in renewable energy capture and storage, evolving over recent years into leadership with new energy vehicle manufacturing,” said Collins.
“BYD vehicles offer more than affordable electrified mobility solutions, they connect Australians into an energy ecosystem where the vehicle offers more than just transport.”
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said projects such as this were important for addressing technical and market barriers that currently limit V2G deployment.
“To unlock V2G at scale, we need to bring together customers, car makers, networks and technology providers,” said Miller.
“A big part of that is giving manufacturers the confidence their vehicles will perform as expected, including through validated approaches to battery use and warranties.”
“This project brings those pieces together to demonstrate how EVs can become an active part of the energy system. That means savings for owners and better utilisation of the grid, which can bring down the cost of the network for everyone.”
The expansion was officially launched in Sydney by Chris Bowen, who highlighted the role V2G could play in supporting Australia’s growing renewable energy sector.
“Vehicle-to-grid technology means your car does not just get you from A to B, it can help power your home and support the grid,” Bowen said.
“Australians with rooftop solar will be able to use their car to store the energy they’ve generated and then use that cheap, clean energy when they need it most.”
Industry groups have also pointed to the broader system benefits of V2G. Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio noted that a single EV battery can store significantly more energy than a typical residential battery system.
“One EV stores five and a half times more energy than a typical home battery,” said Delvecchio.
“The best part? It’s not just the people plugged in who benefit – it’s the whole system. When thousands of EVs feed power back at peak times, it puts downward pressure on costs for everyone.”
Independent verification of the trial’s outcomes will be undertaken by enX, with results intended to inform regulators, policymakers and industry stakeholders.
Amber expects to launch a commercial V2G product during 2026, positioning Australia among the leading global markets for bidirectional charging technology. For fleet managers, the trial provides another indication that EV batteries may increasingly become part of the broader energy ecosystem, creating future opportunities to generate value from vehicles while they are parked.
