EVs to become the solar energy storage solution for Aussie homes, says Clipsal

The way Aussie homes are powered is expected to undergo something of a revolution in the coming years, and a major local electrical component supplier says battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are set to be at the forefront by serving as mobile powerpacks for the electricity grid.

As energy bills continue to increase, consumers are looking for more efficient and viable ways to reduce their quarterly bills as well as their carbon footprint, hence the dramatic increase in popularity of solar panels and home battery systems.

EVs and PHEVs will become a potentially large part of this transition as an increasing number of models become available with bi-directional charging capabilities, meaning that in addition to being charged from the grid they can return power from the vehicle to the grid (V2G), as well to your home (V2H) and individual electrical appliances (V2L).

In theory, an electrified family vehicle can therefore serve as a primary or secondary home battery storage system as well as a means of transportation.

Various V2G studies and trials have already been undertaken both in Australia and overseas, in which power is taken from a plugged in EV or PHEV and fed into the energy grid during peak times and then restored to the vehicle (recharged) during off-peak times.

The catch is no Australian state has yet approved the technology for use, although South Australia is expected to soon become the first following a trial in that state.

The other caveat is that you need a bi-directional charger, such as the Wallbox Quasar unit that helps power Mitsubishi’s Australia’s Adelaide HQ (pictured) by allowing CHAdeMO-enabled electrified vehicles to charge their drive batteries and supply their stored energy back to the electricity grid.

Last year Jet Charge imported Australia’s first examples of the Wallbox Qasar, which is described as the world’s first bi-directional DC charger, but it costs around $10,000 and will initially be available only for government and energy supplier trials.

However, that’s less than the cost of a standard 13kWh Tesla Powerwall 2 home battery system and, in the case of an EV, it provides access to a far bigger battery in which to store excess energy.

And when bi-directional charging is approved in more areas, more bi-directional chargers become available and bi-directional capability becomes more widespread in more EVs, more Australians will be able to take advantage of the technology.

Only three EV or PHEV models are currently available in Australia with V2G compatibility – the Nissan LEAF, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV.

More compatible models will become available as the popularity of EVs and PHEVs continues to grow and, when it does, major Australian electrical component supplier Schneider Electric says EVs will “become the central storage point for solar energy in Australian houses, while also connecting to smart tech in the homes of the future.

“This energy ecosystem will allow homeowners to control and even increase their usage as they take advantage of carbon-free electricity for a better climate, cost and comfort, making the home a key driver for greener roads.”

Speaking at the company’s Innovation Summit last week, Clipsal by Schneider Electric vice-president Chris Kerr called for more government and (energy) industry education for consumers.

“Driven by ‘prosumers’, so named as they both produce and consume resources, including energy, this emerging market has the potential to reshape homes of the future and it has already started, but prosumers need help,” he said.

“Fortunately, there is a clear entry point for the ‘prosumer home of the future’, in its energy management system, which will act as a central hub linked to solar panels and batteries, including one or more electric vehicles (EVs).

“These at-home options will transform the way we think about refuelling, making going to a petrol station inconvenient for day-to-day driving and encouraging greater reliance on electrical energy.”

From a low base, EV sales in Australia have increased by a huge 783.9 per cent to February this year (10,784 versus just 1220 sales in the first two months of 2022), while PHEV sales are up a far more modest 43.9 per cent (892 v 620) as more and more Aussies take advantage of the myriad EV incentives offered by state governments.

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