At a testing facility in Port Macquarie, a team of researchers from Essential Energy and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) are working on integrating electric vehicles (EVs) into Australia’s energy system.
Their joint study has shown that vehicles equipped with commonly used Combined Charging System (CCS2) plugs can do more than just power a daily commute—they can also store and supply energy to households and the broader grid.
Study highlights
Conducted at Essential Energy’s Innovation Hub in late 2024 and early 2025, the trial simulated household energy use under real-world conditions.
Researchers tested the potential of bi-directional EV charging to support energy demand, export surplus power, and stabilise the grid.
Using two EVs—a Nissan Leaf connected via a CHAdeMO charger and a Ford F150 Lightning paired with a CCS2-compatible charger—the project demonstrated that both vehicles could charge and discharge energy effectively.
"Important milestone"
“This project marks an important milestone for Australia, successfully demonstrating a Combined Charging System (CCS2) bi-directional charger with a market-available V2G-capable vehicle,” project lead Sam Behrens said.
“It opens the way for wider adoption of commonly available CCS2-compatible V2G technology, enabling households and utilities to use EVs as flexible energy resources.”
Broader compatibility
Until now, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) trials in Australia have largely relied on CHAdeMO plugs—technology that is fast becoming obsolete.
This new demonstration with CCS2 technology paves the way for broader compatibility across a growing number of EV models.
The trial also established a testbed for future industry-led innovations. According to Behrens, the lab setup is already being used to help design energy systems that integrate EVs into homes and prepare networks for new technologies.
What's next?
CSIRO and Essential Energy are now exploring the next phase of research, with plans to enhance automation, improve control systems, and broaden testing across future V2G configurations.
“We have high hopes that V2G will deliver benefits not only to EV owners, but also to the wider community by adding much-needed energy storage to power system infrastructure,” Behrens said.