V2X is the ability to feed power back out of an electric vehicle to the home (V2H) and/or to the grid (V2G). In terms of vehicle features, it has been something of a ‘Holy Grail’ for EV buyers who constantly search for it, but never quite find it.
However, new Australian business V2Grid have just received Clean Energy Council (CEC) certification for their bidirectional EV charger – the first in Australia to receive this – meaning it can now be installed in Australian homes!
Their charger, called the Numbat, is a wall-mounted 7 kW (single phase) bidirectional EV charger that operates without the need for any additional home battery system as it uses the battery in an EV to provide the power source.
The Numbat is also an all-Australian affair as both its hardware and software were designed and developed locally, with a manufacturing plant in Wingfield (South Australia) currently being commissioned to begin local manufacturing.
Features of the Numbat include both the capacity to feed from an EV battery back into the grid, as well use an EV as an isolated home back-up battery (V2H) system when the grid is down.
Image: Bryce Gaton
Of particular interest to owners of older EVs such as the Nissan leaf or Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is the Numbat can be fitted with either CCS2 or CHAdeMO plugs. (CHAdeMO having long been superseded by CCS2 in Australia and only the Mitsubishi Outlander and Nissan Leaf are still fitted with it).
“Achieving CEC approval for the Numbat is a proud moment for our team,” said Matt Downie, co-founder of V2Grid Australia.
“As the first bidirectional charger to meet these standards in Australia, it opens the door for EV owners to turn their vehicles into mobile energy resources.
“We’re excited about what this means for the Australian energy market – drivers can now charge their cars and also support the grid or power their homes with one device. This technology will help accelerate the transition to renewable energy by enabling greater use of stored solar power and improving grid stability, all with a charger designed and built right here in South Australia.”
Thus far, V2grid have formally tested it with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and both the ZE0/AZE0 and ZE1 series Nissan Leafs (i.e. CHAdeMO fitted).
Mind-you, it is likely that most interest will come from CCS2 fitted vehicle owners as this is the plug fitted to the vast majority of the Australian EV car parc. Owners of the Mitsubishi iMiEV will be disappointed though – Mitsubishi have told V2Grid that these will need a software update, which Mitsubishi might pursue ‘if there is enough demand’.
Owners of late Model Outlanders will be happier – Mitsubishi have told V2Grid they are fine with current model Outlanders (where fitted with the CHAdeMO socket) to be used with the Numbat system.
The Numbat bidirectional charger currently retails at $10,000 (plus GST) plus installation – which should start at around $1000, depending on the unit’s proximity and cable route to the switchboard. (V2Grid expect this unit cost to reduce as production scales up at their new Wingfield manufacturing plant).
Given many EVs sold here are technically V2X capable (and sold as such in other markets) it now comes down to just one remaining hold-up for the introduction of V2X to Australia: the vehicle manufacturers warranting their batteries for bidirectional use. (And for some of these vehicles, a software update).
Without that warranty issue being resolved, EV owners using V2X units outside of a vehicle manufacturer approved V2X trial are taking the risk that any battery failure (whether related to V2X use or not) will not be covered by the battery warranty.
Mind-you there are now a number of trials underway. AGL are currently working with owners of select Hyundai, Kia, BYD and Zeekr models, plus BYD have recently paired with Amber to warranty their vehicles within a 50 unit V2X trial.
All-in-all, it seems the dam wall is finally about to burst on V2X. Going by the reaction at my public talks on EVs, there is certainly a pent-up demand for it: perhaps every second question/comment I get now from attendees is “when will be V2X be available?/I will buy a BEV when they include V2X”.
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.
