Key Points
- Australia set a new Guinness World Record with 359 people taking part in a barbecue lesson.
- Every barbecue at the event was powered by BYD EVs using V2L technology.
- The previous record of 336 participants was set in Kansas City in 2017.
- The event raised funds for food relief charity OzHarvest.
- Organisers now want to break the world record for the largest barbecue gathering with 50,000 attendees.
Australia’s love affair with the barbecue has helped secure a new Guinness World Record, but this time electric vehicles played a starring role.
A record-breaking 359 participants gathered at Zestiny Farm in Central Mangrove on New South Wales’ Central Coast to take part in what is now officially the world’s largest barbecue lesson at a single location. The achievement surpassed the previous record of 336 people, set in Kansas City, United States, in 2017.
While the world record itself grabbed headlines, the event also showcased a different story: how electric vehicles can do far more than simply transport people from A to B.
Every barbecue used during the record attempt was powered by electricity supplied directly from BYD electric vehicles using the company's Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology, creating what organisers say was one of Australia's largest demonstrations of EV-powered outdoor cooking.
➡️MORE: Which Electric Cars Have Bidirectional Charging (V2L, V2G, V2H)?
How BYD EVs Powered Hundreds of Barbecues
Unlike traditional large-scale barbecue events that rely on gas bottles or generators, this record attempt took a cleaner approach.
BYD vehicles supplied electricity to a fleet of electric barbecues through V2L technology, which allows an EV battery to function as a portable power source. The technology can be used to run appliances, camping equipment, tools and, in this case, hundreds of electric grills simultaneously.
The event was organised by Alex "Big Al" Horton and The Big BBQ community, with celebrity chef Jamie Gannon leading participants through the official lesson while a Guinness World Records adjudicator monitored the attempt.
Participants cooked veggie burgers made from certified organic produce supplied by Zestiny Farm, demonstrating how EV technology can be integrated into sustainable outdoor events.
The use of electric barbecues and EV power sources also eliminated the need for conventional fuel-powered generators, highlighting another practical application of battery-electric vehicles beyond daily driving.
➡️ READ MORE:
- Electric Cars with V2L (Vehicle-to-Load)
- Electric Cars with V2H (Vehicle-to-Home)
- Electric Cars with V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid)
Raising Money and Promoting Sustainability
The event was about more than breaking records.
Funds raised through ticket sales and donations were directed to food relief charity OzHarvest, helping tackle food insecurity across Australia.
MasterFoods, Australia's largest barbecue sauce brand, supported the event by providing complimentary sauce for participants, while a broad range of organisations from the EV, sustainability and food sectors also backed the attempt.
Organiser Alex Horton said the achievement was proof that Australians remain passionate about barbecue culture while embracing new technologies.
The successful record attempt followed months of preparation, with Horton and The Big BBQ team hosting events across New South Wales to recruit participants and build momentum for the world record challenge.
The combination of community engagement, fundraising and EV technology helped make the event stand out from traditional record attempts.
What's Next for Australia's EV-Powered BBQ Movement?
The record-breaking lesson may only be the beginning.
Following the successful attempt, organisers have already set their sights on an even bigger challenge: breaking the Guinness World Record for the world's largest barbecue attendance.
That record is currently held by Mexico, where more than 45,000 people attended a single barbecue event.
Horton believes Australia can go one step further and is targeting an event involving 50,000 participants by 2028.
If achieved, it would not only reclaim another barbecue-related world record for Australia but could also become one of the largest demonstrations yet of how electric vehicles and portable battery power can support major public events.
What This Means for Australia
The world-record barbecue lesson may seem like a fun community event, but it also offered a practical glimpse into how EV technology is evolving.
Vehicle-to-Load capability is becoming increasingly common across modern electric vehicles, allowing owners to power appliances, camping equipment, emergency devices and even household appliances directly from their cars. Events like this demonstrate that EVs can act as mobile energy sources, not just transportation.
For Australia, where outdoor lifestyles, camping and remote travel are deeply embedded in the culture, technologies like V2L could become a significant selling point for future EV buyers.
The record also highlights a broader trend. As electric vehicles become more mainstream, manufacturers are increasingly showcasing real-world uses that extend beyond emissions reduction and fuel savings. Whether it's powering homes during outages, supporting emergency response efforts or running hundreds of barbecues at a world-record event, EV batteries are becoming valuable energy assets in their own right.
And in a country that takes its barbecues seriously, helping break a Guinness World Record might be one of the most Australian demonstrations of EV technology yet.
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