Australia launches Vehicle-Grid Network
19th January 2026
Australia has taken a major step toward integrating electric vehicles into its energy system with the launch of the Vehicle-Grid Network (VGN), a new national collaboration designed to accelerate vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology and support the country’s transition to a low-emissions economy.
The network was officially launched last month by Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and is backed by funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre and a wide range of industry partners. It will be led by Climate-KIC Australia and the University of Technology Sydney’s (UTS) Institute for Sustainable Futures.
VGN comes as Australia’s electric vehicle market continues to grow and awareness increases of EVs’ potential to act as mobile energy storage. Through bidirectional charging, V2G technology allows EVs not only to draw power from the grid but also to send electricity back to homes or the wider network, helping to lower energy bills and improve grid stability. However, technical, regulatory and commercial barriers have limited its widespread adoption to date.
The new network aims to overcome those challenges by establishing a nationally co-ordinated collaboration between industry, government and researchers, strengthening technical and market foundations such as interoperability and standards, and building capability through trusted information, tools and events. It also seeks to position Australia as an international leader in V2G and distributed energy innovation.
Oliver Hill, Program Leader for Electric Vehicles at RACE for 2030, said the Vehicle-Grid Network would act as a national hub for research and knowledge, bringing together Australia’s growing expertise in bidirectional EV charging and distributed energy resource management.
Climate-KIC Australia chief executive and UTS ISF Industry Professor Chris Lee said large-scale transitions only happen when different sectors work together. He said the network would provide a space for industry, government and researchers to share lessons, understand emerging technologies and identify ways to accelerate the rollout of bidirectional charging across the country.
The Vehicle-Grid Network already includes a broad group of partners spanning governments, energy companies, EV manufacturers, charging providers, consumer groups and regulators, with organisers continuing to seek additional industry and government participants to help shape Australia’s vehicle-to-grid future.