Could the car in your driveway power your home?

We suggest beginning with the job you want the car to do. Supplying an appliance, backing up the home and exporting to the grid need different checks before you buy equipment.

Start with what you want to power

Vehicle-to-load, or V2L, lets a compatible car supply individual appliances through an outlet or approved adaptor. Depending on the vehicle’s limits, that might mean running a fridge or charging a laptop. It is a practical feature to check in the car’s Australian manual.

Vehicle-to-home, or V2H, supplies a home’s electrical system through a suitable installation. If you want it to work during a blackout, the system must safely isolate the home from the grid. Ask which circuits it can support and how much power it can deliver.

Vehicle-to-grid, or V2G, exports electricity to the network. It needs compatible equipment, network approval and a retailer arrangement that supports the service.

V2L alone does not establish that a car can run the home through its switchboard. Home backup needs the right equipment and professional installation.

Australia is moving beyond small demonstrations

Essential Energy has reported trial connections in NSW, including a Nissan Leaf in the Goulburn region and a tested combination using an AUSEV Ford F-150 Lightning with Sigenergy equipment. Those examples demonstrate specific setups rather than approval for every car or charger.

The market is developing quickly. In May 2026, ARENA announced funding to expand an Amber Electric trial from 50 to a planned 1,000 V2G households.

Program details checked 13 October 2026: Amber’s September announcement includes eligible BYD Sealion 7 owners alongside eligible Atto 3 owners, with program-specific BYD battery-warranty support. It invites owners to join a waitlist. That is a route to investigate, rather than confirmation that an installation is available for your address.

For an ACT home, confirm current Evoenergy connection approval and the vehicle manufacturer’s Australian position. For a NSW home, check the distributor serving the address. Ask for confirmation of the complete car-and-charger combination, including any export limit, before accepting a quote.

Check whether the car will be home

A car cannot supply your household while it is being driven somewhere else. If it spends every sunny weekday in a workplace car park, it may miss your rooftop solar surplus. If it is often away in the evening, it may also miss the hours when home electricity is expensive.

Keep enough charge for driving. Ask how the system sets a minimum driving reserve, handles a changed departure time and lets you override a schedule. Check those controls before relying on the car for the evening household load.

Battery capacity and power output matter separately. Plenty of stored energy does not mean the setup can run every large appliance at once.

Could the car replace a home battery?

It may cover some of the same jobs if the complete installation is supported, but compare an ordinary week. A stationary battery stays home. The car may be away when solar is available or the household needs power, and part of its charge must remain available for driving.

For backup, compare the supported circuits, output power and reserve, not just battery capacity. For bill savings, include the charger and electrical work, retailer terms and any ongoing fees. Check whether you are comparing an available installation, a trial place or a future promise.

Before getting a quote, ask for written confirmation of:

• compatibility between your exact vehicle and charger
• Australian warranty coverage for the intended use
• network approval and any export limits
• blackout operation, supported circuits and driving reserve
• the total installation cost and ongoing charges.

Start with the exact car model and a normal week of parking and driving. Then ask an installer to confirm the supported functions, approval route and full cost. That turns a promising feature into a decision you can make for your own home.

Related advice: How to choose a home battery · Do I need a dedicated EV charger at home?

Explore the options for your car

For home-storage options you can investigate now, start with our home battery information (opens in a new tab) and, for eligible ACT EV owners, evEnergy Saver (opens in a new tab). If you’re exploring V2G, your installer and network must confirm the equipment and connection approval before you rely on a retailer offer.

Read the home battery buying guide