V2G in South Australia: Consumer insights

This project investigates how South Australian consumers understand and respond to Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies, with a focus on behavioural barriers, incentive structures, and service models.

Conducted by UniSA in partnership with RAA, Net Zero Engineering Solutions and iMOVE, the project will use a combination of qualitative interviews and large-scale surveys with South Australians to identify consumer preferences around V2G market offers. This includes interoperability and consumer incentives for using bidirectional charging to help support the state achieve net 100% renewables by 2027.

The findings will inform government advocacy efforts. By generating practical insights into consumer preferences and market design, the project aims to support South Australia’s leadership in integrating electric vehicles (EV) into the energy system.

Participants

• Royal Automobile Association of SA Inc (RAA)
• Net Zero Engineering Solutions
  
• University of South Australia

Project background

V2G technology EVs to not only draw power from the grid, but also to return electricity back into it, effectively transforming them into mobile energy storage units.

By allowing EVs to discharge stored energy during peak demand periods, V2G can help stabilise the electricity grid, reduce reliance on fossil fuel-based generation, and enhance the integration of renewables such as solar and wind.

This bidirectional energy flow supports broader decarbonisation goals, linking the transport and energy sectors in the transition to Net Zero.

Although the technical feasibility of V2G has been demonstrated through trials in Europe, the United States, and Australia, including recent projects supported by iMOVE and ARENA, widespread adoption remains limited. Many of the core technical challenges, such as bidirectional charger standards, grid interoperability, and battery management, are being actively addressed through national and international collaborations.

As a result, attention is now shifting to the behavioural and policy barriers that must be overcome to scale V2G in practice. In particular, V2G uptake will depend heavily on consumer understanding, trust, and willingness to participate.

Anecdotally, many people, including EV owners, remain unfamiliar with V2G capabilities or still have concerns that need to be addressed.

South Australia is well positioned to lead in this space, with high levels of rooftop solar, strong EV policy momentum, and a history of innovation in energy markets. However, realising this potential will require a deeper understanding of consumer preferences, as well as clear guidance on the roles that governments and private sector actors can play in enabling and scaling V2G solutions.

This project will focus on the behavioural and policy dimensions of V2G uptake in South Australia. It will identify key barriers to consumer participation, assess targeted interventions and service design options and provide actionable recommendations for government policy. By doing so, the project aims to position South Australia as a testbed for national leadership in bidirectional charging.

Project objective

This project will deliver actionable insights and practical outputs to support the uptake and commercialisation of V2G technologies in South Australia. Specifically, the project aims to:

1. Identify the key behavioural barriers and enablers influencing South Australian consumers’ willingness to adopt and participate in V2G program.
2. Evaluate the effectiveness of different behavioural interventions, incentives, and service models in encouraging V2G uptake across diverse consumer segments, using quantitative evidence from a large-scale survey.
3. Develop a set of policy recommendations for government agencies to accelerate V2G deployment and align with broader energy and transport decarbonisation goals.

Please note …

This page will be a living record of this project. As it matures, hits milestones, etc., we’ll continue to add information, links, images, interviews and more. Watch this space!