Amber to supercharge V2G pilot to more than 1,000 EVs with government funding boost

Amber Electric has secured an additional $13.6 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to significantly expand its vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and smart charging pilot project. This boost follows overwhelming interest in the initial trial, which targeted just 50 participants but attracted over 6,000 enquiries. The new investment will enable Amber to increase the number of participants to more than 1,000 and double the number of smart chargers deployed to 2,000, marking a major step towards mainstreaming the concept of “batteries on wheels.” The pilot currently relies on vehicles supplied by BYD, which has granted an exemption from its usual battery warranties to facilitate the trial, although Amber is actively seeking partnerships with additional car manufacturers. The technology allows electric vehicle (EV) owners to not only charge their cars when electricity prices are low or solar generation is high but also to sell electricity back to the grid during peak demand, potentially saving users up to $2,500 annually. One participant reportedly earned $500 in a single day during a recent heatwave, illustrating the financial benefits of V2G systems. Federal Energy and Climate Minister Chris Bowen highlighted the broader implications of V2G technology, emphasising its role in supporting the grid and enabling EV owners with rooftop solar to store and use clean energy more efficiently. Bowen acknowledged the challenges in developing universal standards to integrate various components such as chargers, inverters, and car batteries, noting that some manufacturers have been slow to support V2G due to concerns over battery warranties. However, he predicted that consumer demand for V2G-enabled vehicles will eventually influence manufacturers’ approaches. ARENA chief Darren Miller underscored the importance of V2G in providing storage and flexibility for a renewable energy grid, setting an ambitious target of having one million V2G-capable EVs on Australian roads by 2035. Amber’s pilot aims to refine the technology and regulatory framework, ensuring that users maintain control over their vehicles’ charging schedules and minimum battery levels through a dedicated app. This project represents a critical step towards integrating EVs as active participants in energy systems, potentially transforming how electricity is consumed and managed in the future.