If you had told an Aussie driver ten years ago that their car would one day “earn its keep” by paying the household power bill, they would’ve laughed you out of the driveway. Back then, cars were “depreciating assets”—expensive machines that sat idle 95% of the time, slowly losing value and draining your wallet at the pump.

But as of December 2025, that old reality has officially shifted.

At EV Evolution, we’ve been tracking the “Battery-on-Wheels” revolution for years. This month, it finally went mainstream with the launch of the Vehicle-Grid Network (VGN). We aren’t just talking about saving money on petrol anymore. We’re talking about your car becoming a high-yield energy asset that effectively wipes out your electricity bill while you sleep.

⚡ The December 2025 Milestone: What is the VGN?

On December 1, 2025, Federal Energy Minister Chris Bowen officially launched the Vehicle-Grid Network (VGN). Led by Climate-KIC Australia and the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures, this isn’t just another government “study.” It is a national framework designed to turn the millions of EVs hitting our roads into a giant, decentralized power station.

For the first time, Australia has a unified “playbook” for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G).

• The Goal: To make bidirectional charging as standard as rooftop solar.
• The Tech: It synchronizes car manufacturers, charging hardware, and electricity retailers under a single set of standards (AS/NZS 4777.2:2024).

In simple terms: The VGN is the “Internet of Energy” for your garage. It’s the reason why, from this month forward, your EV is no longer just a transport device—it’s a financial tool.

💰 The Math of Making Money: How Your Car “Sells” Power

How does a car pay a bill? It comes down to Peak Shaving and Grid Exporting.

Think about your house at 6:30 PM. The sun has gone down, your solar panels are sleeping, and the electricity grid is under massive strain as everyone turns on their aircon and ovens. This is when power is most expensive—often spiking to 45 cents per kWh or more.

The V2G Strategy:

1. The Soak: Your EV charges during the day at 10 AM using your “free” rooftop solar or ultra-cheap off-peak grid power (often as low as 8c/kWh).
2. The Sale: At 6 PM, instead of pulling expensive power from the grid, your house pulls power from your Kia EV9, Nissan Leaf, or Mitsubishi Outlander.
3. The Export: If the grid is really struggling, your energy retailer (like Amber or Origin) can actually “buy” that power back from your car battery at premium rates.

The EV Evolution Insight: According to the Electric Vehicle Council’s 2025 modelling, the average Aussie EV owner could earn roughly $1,000 to $2,000 a year in passive income just by letting their car “support the grid” during these peak windows. That’s enough to cover the rego, insurance, and the power bill.

🔌 The Hardware: Getting V2G Ready

You can’t do this with a standard “dumb” charger. To participate in the VGN, you need a Bidirectional Charger. As of late 2025, we finally have CEC-certified options available for Australian homes:

Note on Warranty: This is the big question we get at EV Evolution. For a long time, manufacturers were scared of battery degradation. But in 2025, brands like Ford (F-150 Lightning) and Kia have officially updated their warranties to support V2G, acknowledging that smart, slow discharging is no harder on a battery than driving up a steep hill.

🇦🇺 Is Your State V2G-Friendly?

The VGN launch has triggered a race between the states to see who can offer the best “V2G Feed-in Tariffs.”

• South Australia: The pioneer. SA Power Networks was the first to allow V2G exports, and they are currently seeing the highest participation rates in the country.
• NSW & Victoria: Both states have integrated V2G into their Virtual Power Plant (VPP) programs. If you sign up, your car becomes part of a “digital battery” that helps prevent blackouts in exchange for massive bill credits.
• Queensland: Energex and Ergon have recently streamlined the application process, making it as easy to get a V2G charger approved as it is to get a new solar inverter.

🏁 The EV Evolution Verdict: The End of the “One-Way” Grid

The launch of the Vehicle-Grid Network this month marks the end of the 20th-century energy model. We are moving away from a world where you are a “consumer” and into a world where you are a “prosumer.”

Your car has a battery that is roughly 5 to 10 times larger than a standard home wall battery (like a Tesla Powerwall). Why pay $15,000 for a home battery when you have a massive one sitting on four wheels in your garage?

At EV Evolution, we believe the “Price War” of 2025 was the first step, but the “V2G Revolution” of 2026 is the real game-changer. It’s the moment the EV stops being a “cost” and starts being a “revenue stream.”

🤖 Join the Evolution: Is Your Provider Ready?

The VGN is live, but not every electricity retailer is ready to play ball yet. Some are offering “V2G-specific” plans with huge export bonuses, while others are still catching up.

Don’t wait for your next bill to find out you’re missing out.

Ask the EV Evolution AI chatbot today:

• “Does my electricity provider currently support Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) trials?”
• “Which retailers in [Your State] have the best export rates for V2G?”
• “Is my [EV Model] compatible with the Wallbox Quasar 2?”
• “What is the estimated ROI of a V2G charger versus a standard smart charger?”

About EV Evolution

EV Evolution is the leading online platform dedicated to Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts. We foster a vibrant community, delivering essential EV news and insights, and enhancing user engagement through our innovative, AI-powered chatbot for dynamic discussions. Our mission is to empower Australian electric vehicle owners and enthusiasts by fostering a vibrant, AI-driven online community that connects, informs, and advances the nation’s electric vehicle landscape.