Amber's V2G pilot scales to 1,000 EVs with federal funding

Australian smart energy retailer Amber has secured federal government funding to scale up its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) pilot program to over 1,000 electric vehicles. V2G technology allows EV batteries to discharge stored electricity back into the grid, helping balance supply and demand — particularly as renewable energy penetration increases.

Why V2G matters for the grid

As solar and wind generation becomes more intermittent, grid operators increasingly need flexible storage resources. EVs, parked for most of the day, represent a vast untapped battery reserve. A 1,000-vehicle pilot at this scale would be one of the largest real-world V2G trials globally, providing valuable data on how bi-directional charging performs under real network conditions.

BYD the only automaker on board — so far

Despite the ambition of the program, only BYD has publicly confirmed it will make its vehicles available for the pilot. This reliance on a single manufacturer raises questions about broader automaker engagement. In Europe, models from Nissan, Volkswagen and Hyundai already support V2G or vehicle-to-home (V2H) functionality, but uptake in Australia's market has been slower.

The outcome of Amber's pilot could have implications well beyond Australia. If V2G proves economically viable at scale, it could accelerate regulatory reform in markets — including the EU — where household-level grid export from EV batteries remains restricted or untested.