Mitsubishi Partners with V2Grid Australia for CHAdeMO V2G Solution

V2Grid Australia, an Adelaide-based electric vehicle (EV) charging company, has introduced Australia's first locally developed CHAdeMO bi-directional charger.

A bi-directional charging system enables two key functions: vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home capabilities. This allows bi-directional V2G compatible EV owners to use their vehicles as mobile power sources, potentially contributing to grid stability during peak demand periods.

The technology allows compatible CHAdeMO port electric vehicles (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander respectively, to both receive and send power back to the electrical grid or homes.

The company has partnered with Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) to ensure compatibility with Mitsubishi's plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), specifically the Outlander and Eclipse Cross models.

This collaboration included on-site testing at V2Grid Australia’s South Australian headquarters.

“We wanted to cater for all EV generations, and working closely with Mitsubishi on developing this solution has delivered this,” said Matthew Downie, Co-Founder of V2Grid Australia. The company was established by Downie and James Murray, who both have backgrounds in sustainable energy and EV infrastructure.

Tim Clarke, Mitsubishi Motors Australia’s eMobility Manager, confirmed the partnership: “Mitsubishi Motors Australia is proud to be collaborating with V2Grid Australia to enable bi-directional capability for our PHEV customers.”

The technology offers potential financial benefits for different user groups.

Retirees and other people who can potentially charge for almost free during the day using excess solar, could discharge during peak hours and potentially see returns of up to $45 per day.

It is not yet clear how the batteries in EV and PHEV will react if used heavily for V2G most days and also how this use will impact on EV and PHEV high voltage battery warranties.

According to V2Grid Australia’s projections, daily drive-to-work commuters could generate up to $30 per day by charging their vehicles at their workplace and feed power back to the grid during peak times (e.g. 5 PM to 9 PM at home).

V2Grid Australia’s headquarters at 144 Hutt Street, Adelaide is open to interested parties who wish to view the technology in operation. The company reports receiving significant pre-orders for the bi-directional charging units.

V2Grid is not the only local player in this area: RedEarth Energy Storage and ambibox have partnered to manufacture bi-directional V2G/V2H EV chargers in Australia. 3 Phase versions are expected to be available by mid-2025, with single-phase units arriving later in 2025.