Essential Energy (one of the electricity networks in NSW), CSIRO (a big science research organisation), Sigenergy (a tech company), and AUSEV (an electric vehicle company) have announced that Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is now ready for real-world use in Australia.

What is V2G?

Typically, we simply charge electric vehicles from the grid. But V2G enables electric vehicles to feed electricity back into the grid. So your vehicle can be used as a giant battery for your house or for the power grid.

What’s new here?

They tested V2G first with a Nissan Leaf and an old CHAdeMO charger.

Now they’ve done it with a Ford F-150 Lightning using CCS2 technology (the newer and more common fast charging connector).

They used a Sigenergy SigenStor storage system, which combines a battery and a V2G charger into one unit.

This setup (the Sigenergy system + the F-150 Lightning) is approved for use on the Essential Energy network.

Is it available for everyone?

Not yet — only the Ford F-150 Lightning (the AUSEV version) with this specific Sigenergy system has been approved. But they’re working on getting more EVs approved in the future.

Why is this important?

• – It helps stabilize the grid (especially when there’s lots of solar power).
• – It lets customers get more value from their EVs — your car can power your house during blackouts or even sell energy back to the grid.
• – It’s a big step toward smarter, more flexible energy systems in Australia.

Fun fact:

• – Essential Energy has been testing V2G since 2023.
• – The F-150 Lightning’s huge 131kWh battery can power a home or small building for a long time if needed.

The Capabilities

The Ford F-150 Lightning (the electric sibling of the iconic pickup) charges its battery at varying speeds based on how you’re charging it:

With DC Fast Charging (large public chargers):

These are really powerful chargers you’d typically see at public charging stations.

They fill the battery rapidly, but only to 80% — then the charging backs off to preserve the battery.

Charge times from 15% to 80%.

• – Standard Range (98 kWh battery): around 32 minutes
• – Extended Range (131 kWh battery): around 38 minutes
• – Flash model (123 kWh battery): around 38 minutes

(Observe that larger batteries take a bit longer.)

With Level 2 AC Charging (home chargers):

These are slower chargers you may have in your home or workplaces.

They employ Alternating Current (AC) and the onboard charger in the vehicle (an integrated converter) to charge the battery.

Charge times from 15% to 100%

• – Standard Range (98 kWh battery): roughly 10 hours
• – Extended Range (131 kWh battery): roughly 13 hours
• – Flash model (123 kWh battery): roughly 12 hours

(Slower than DC, but great for overnight charging.)

Note of significance:

The F-150 Lightning’s onboard charger — the component that dictates how quickly it can accept AC electricity — has a capability of up to 48 amps (roughly 11.3 kilowatts).

Even with your wall charger being über-powerful, the truck will not charge any faster than 11.3 kW on AC due to this cap.

Briefly:

• – Quick public chargers can fill you from 15% to 80% in roughly 30–40 minutes.
• – A home charger will take 10–13 hours to a full charge, depending on your battery capacity.
• – The onboard AC charger in the truck has a limit of 11.3 kW, which is the home charging speed cap.

Although this technology isn’t yet available to all EV owners, this first approval is a promising step forward. Currently, only the AUSEV-supplied Ford F-150 Lightning paired with the Sigenergy system is cleared for use, but ongoing work aims to expand compatibility to more vehicles and chargers. As more EV models and systems get approved, we can expect a future where vehicle batteries play an important role in stabilizing the grid, reducing electricity costs, and enhancing energy independence for households.

Unlocking New Value from Electric Vehicles

V2G technology brings a range of benefits that go beyond just vehicle use. It can help smooth out fluctuations in solar generation, especially in regions with lots of rooftop solar, and it allows EV owners to use their vehicles as backup power during blackouts or even sell energy back to the grid. Essentially, your EV becomes more than just transport — it becomes an active part of a smart, flexible energy system that benefits both you and the wider community.

A Bright Future for Smarter Energy Systems

Overall, this breakthrough highlights Australia’s growing leadership in innovative energy solutions. With heavy hitters like Essential Energy, CSIRO, Sigenergy, and AUSEV driving these advancements, V2G is set to become a vital part of Australia’s clean energy future. While there’s still work to do to expand access, the foundations are now laid for EV owners to unlock new value from their vehicles and for the power grid to become more resilient and sustainable.