AGL is the second gentailer to launch a landmark residential vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trial, encouraging customers to unlock the potential of their electric vehicles and move from using energy to managing energy.
The AGL trial will involve select EV models made by Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr. AGL is working with the four manufacturers on providing trial participants with a guarantee that their vehicle’s battery warranty will not be impacted by participating in AGL’s trial.
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With around 300,000 EVs already on the road, AGL’s V2G trial aims to unlock the full potential of customers’ car batteries as a flexible energy storage asset that can help reduce home energy costs and support the energy grid as more renewable energy comes on-line.
AGL head of innovation and strategy Renae Gasmier said, “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. The typical electric car battery can store enough energy to power the average home for around three days.”
AGL’s V2G technology will enable EVs to become a two-way energy source, charging customers’ EV battery when electricity prices are low and renewables are plentiful and using that energy to power their homes or export surplus power back to the grid to earn extra credits to help lower home energy usage costs. AGL’s smart software handles everything while ensuring customers’ EV is charged and ready to drive when needed.
Gasmier said, “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.”
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Electric Vehicle Council CEO Julie Delvecchio said, “Electric vehicles can store five times more energy than a typical home battery, a huge untapped resource sitting in our driveways. With around 350,000 EVs already on Australian roads the potential is extraordinary and trials like this will help turn this opportunity into reality.”
AGL is also working towards expanding the trial so that customers maintain control with the ability to tell AGL’s V2G platform when they want their car charged and ready to drive.