The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is committing a further 13.6 million dollars to grow a vehicle-to-grid trial that will reach 1000 households while also broadening a smart-charging program.

The initiative, first revealed in 2024 and with its initial home installation completed in November 2025, is run in partnership with Amber Electric and several car brands active in Australia, with BYD now guiding the next stage of growth.

Vehicle-to-grid technology permits bidirectional power flow so electric cars can draw energy from the grid and return stored power when needed.

Mitsubishi earned the first regulatory clearance for its plug-in hybrids, the Outlander and Eclipse Cross, to export electricity to the grid during 2024.

The fresh funding lifts the number of residential V2G chargers from the original 50 units to 1000 homes.

ARENA will simultaneously increase smart-charging participation from 950 households to 2000, enabling owners to recharge when prices and emissions are lowest.

Chief executive Darren Miller noted that vehicle-to-grid systems could reshape energy storage and grid support strategies, giving Australians the chance to trade energy through their vehicles and support a stronger renewable network.

The expanded project raises overall investment from 3.2 million dollars to 16.8 million dollars.

ARENA added that real-world data gathered with manufacturers, led by BYD, will help resolve lingering warranty questions around battery use.

Miller stressed the need to unite customers, automakers, networks and technology firms, stressing that validated battery-management methods will give brands confidence their vehicles perform reliably.

He said the trial shows how EVs can actively support the energy system, delivering owner savings and improved grid efficiency that lowers costs for all users.

ARENA is also backing the national Vehicle-Grid Network, launched last November, to speed up widespread adoption of bidirectional charging.

The move coincides with record EV demand in Australia, where the Tesla Model Y topped sales charts in May and displaced the Ford Ranger, while overall EV market share climbed 111.6 percent year-on-year to 19.9 percent.