Australia’s first public vehicle-to-grid charging station to open soon

Australia’s first public vehicle-to-grid (V2G) electric vehicle (EV) charger is expected to be up and running in South Australia as soon as next month thanks to local start-up V2Grid Australia.

Founded this month by electricians Matthew Downie and James Murray, V2Grid Australia is planning to launch the country’s first public V2G EV charger at a South Australian CBD site next month.

Speaking to Zecar, a V2Grid Australia spokesperson said that the trial site will allow EV drivers to earn real-time payments based on the live market electricity rate to discharge some of the car’s electricity back into the grid.

V2Grid Australia, which claims ownership to a new technology that “reduces peak load stress on electrical systems and empowers EV owners to financially benefit from the electrification transition”, aims to address larger economic and environmental problems through the use of their smart charging technology.

“This technology not only powers EVs but also serves as backup storage for the electrical grid, addressing a looming environmental and economic issue,” said Matthew Downie.

“Whether it’s to provide electricity to support a household in a blackout, an EV owner looking to give back to the grid for financial return or simply to lessen the impact of the rising cost of living, this technology has the power to do it all.

“Our CBD site, which will go live from late September, is almost as easy as tap and go – it’s a park, plug-in and get paid model that has never been seen before.”

Little else is known at the moment as V2Grid Australia focus on the launch of the company, but the company told Zecar that a “global car manufacturer has developed a one-off specialist electric vehicle for V2Grid Australia to rigorously test their smart charger so that it can be made saleable.