AGL launches landmark V2G “batteries on wheels” trial with BYD, Zeekr, Hyundai and Kia

Australian electricity generator AGL Energy has announced what it says is a landmark residential vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology trial with the aim to roll out a network-wide V2G offering for its customers in 2026.

The V2G trial will see AGL partner with four car manufacturers – Hyundai, Kia, BYD, and Zeekr – that will involve select electric vehicle (EV) models and provide trial participants with guarantees that their vehicle’s battery warranty will not be impacted by participating.

According to AGL’s head of innovation and strategy, Renae Gasmier, “the learnings from this trial will allow us to use feedback from participants to roll out a V2G proposition for AGL’s customers with EVs in 2026.

“Unlocking the potential of car batteries is a game-changer for owners, by allowing them to reduce their energy usage costs, and for the broader community by contributing to grid stability during periods of peak energy demand.”

The news from AGL follows that of Origin Energy earlier this week, although that trial was limited to one EV provider, BYD, and one V2G provider.

AGL has conducted smaller trials before, including one that began back in late 2020, with the support of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). That was focused on the old CHAdeMO technology featured in Nissan Leafs.

In early 2022, AGL launched an EV grid “orchestration” trial with 200 homes which focused on monitoring and controlling EV charging to utilise cheaper off-peak renewable energy.

AGL and ARENA published the results of this orchestration trial in late 2023, revealing that time of use tariffs can play an immediate role in moving charging to off-peak periods.

This latest trial, however, will focus more on the potential role EVs can play as flexible storage assets – batteries on wheels – that can both reduce home energy costs and support the energy grid as more renewable energy comes online..

This technology is backed by AGL’s own smart software, which handles all the heavy lifting while ensuring that a customer’s EV is charged and ready to drive when it is needed.

“To unlock the full potential of their electric vehicles, owners need to think about them as more than cars, but rather as home batteries on wheels,” said Gasmier.

“The typical electric car battery can store enough energy to power the average home for around three days.”

For this trial, the first 50 eligible trial participants will receive a discounted bi-directional EV charger plus installation.

Participants will also likely be able to benefit from lower energy bills thanks to the flexibility of the V2G technology, saving money by charging their EVs when prices are lower, earning credits when exporting power back to the grid, and saving money by using their EV to power their homes when energy plan prices are higher.

AGL will also aim to expand the trial to enable customers to maintain greater control over their EV charging, allowing participants to dictate to the V2G platform when they want their car charged and ready to drive.

The V2G trial will bring together all of Australia’s major national electricity market (NEM) distribution network service providers (DNSPs), EV manufacturers such as Hyundai, BYD, Kia, and Zeekr, and EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) providers.

Don Romano, the CEO of Hyundai Australia said the trial will show how EVs can power homes and support the grid.

“It’s real innovation that Australian drivers can see and feel, and we’re proud to deliver it as part of this landmark trial,” he said in a statement.

“Amid cost-of-living pressures, this unlocks the potential for Kia EV owners to transform their cars into mobile energy assets,” added Damien Meredith, CEO of Kia Australia.

“Bi-directional charging is a game-changer, and we look forward to help introduce V2G to the Australian market on a much larger scale.”

The news was similarly praised by Australia’s Electric Vehicle Council (EVC), which praised the increasing number of V2G trials being executed across Australia and the automotive industry’s willingness to participate.

“Electric vehicles can store five times more energy than a typical home battery, a huge untapped resource sitting in our driveways,” said Julie Delvecchio, EVC CEO.

“With around 350,000 EVs already on Australian roads the potential is extraordinary and trials like this will help turn this opportunity into reality.”