What is V2X? Vehicle-to-Everything Technology

What is V2X? (Vehicle-to-Everything)

V2X, or Vehicle-to-Everything, is exactly what it sounds like - it allows your electric vehicle to communicate with and supply power to various systems. With a bidirectional charger, your EV can do more than just drive; it can power your home, a building, another vehicle, or send energy back to the grid, turning your car into a versatile energy source. 

What is V2G? (Vehicle-to-Grid)

V2G, or Vehicle-to-Grid, is a technology that enables your EV to send stored energy from its battery back to the grid. While it operates on the same principle as V2X, V2G is specifically focused on bidirectional energy transfer between your EV and the grid. 

What is the difference between V2G and V2X?

Both V2G and V2X rely on bidirectional charging to transfer power, but the key difference lies in their scope. V2G is limited to sending energy from an electric vehicle to the grid, while V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) offers broader functionality. V2X can power not only the grid, but also Vehicle-to-Home, Vehicle-to-Building, Vehicle-to-Load, and Vehicle-to-Vehicle, making it a more versatile energy solution. 

Read more: A guide to charging your EV with solar energy

Source: Sigenergy

How does V2X work?

To set up a V2X system and power different loads using your EV, you'll need a bidirectional charger. This advanced charger enables two-way energy flow, allowing your EV battery to charge or discharge as needed. With V2X technology, you can use stored energy in your EV in several ways:

Vehicle-to-Home

V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) or V2B (Vehicle-to-Building) permits you to use your EV as a backup supply to keep your lights, appliances, internet, and other critical circuits powered at your property. 

This can be incredibly useful during power outages and severe weather events, where grid power is disconnected. The average EV can hold around 60kWh of electricity in its battery, which could power critical home circuits for around two days. 

If you don't have a home battery, you could even use your EV to power your home in evening peak hours when electricity prices are high.

Read more: Will my solar still work during a power outage?

Vehicle-to-Load

V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) is a simplified use case of V2H, where you can use your bidirectional charger and an adaptor to power specific loads. For example, specific home appliances, camping equipment, power tools, or other standalone devices. 

Vehicle-to-Vehicle

V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) allows you to direct power from EV to another, even if that EV doesn't have bidirectional charging capabilities. For example, if one EV is plugged into a DC bidirectional charger, and another is plugged into an AC Charger, the first EV can direct power to the second EV via the AC charger if the grid were to disconnect. 

What is bidirectional charging?

A bidirectional charger is an advanced type of charger that allows energy to flow both ways. Traditional EV chargers transfer AC electricity from a power source - such as the grid or solar panels - to your vehicle's battery, which is converted to DC electricity for storage. However, with a standard charger, energy can only move in one direction: from the source to the EV. 

Read more: Faster EV charging: 22kW AC vs 25kW DC chargers explained

Bidirectional chargers, on the other hand, enable your EV to receive power and discharge stored DC electricity back into AC. This energy can then be used to power your home or even sent back to the grid. Essentially, a bidirectional charger transforms your EV into a portable battery bank, providing backup power when needed and enhancing energy flexibility. 

Read more: AC vs. DC Batteries

Advantages of V2X

Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology transforms your EV into more than just a mode of transportation - it becomes a powerful energy asset. Here are some key benefits of leveraging V2X:

1. Reduced reliance on the grid

You can use settings and timers on your product's apps to intelligently integrate your EV with your home energy system. Store excess power generated from solar during the day and use it when needed, decreasing your dependence on the grid. This is especially valuable during peak demand periods (between 4pm - 9pm) or in areas prone to power outages. This setup works well for those with flexible work arrangements, such as WFH agreements where you can charge your EV at home during the day while your solar is operating. 

In saying this, you could get cheeky... for example, does your workplace offer free EV charging at the office? Think of the possibilities...

2. Your EV becomes an extra battery for your home

With a bidirectional charger and V2X technology, your EV has the potential to become a mobile energy storage unit. Instead of just using energy, it can store surplus energy, sourced either from the grid during off-peak hours or from your solar. Discharge this energy from your EV when required to help you optimise energy use and reduce costs. 

Read more: Best solar batteries 2025

3. Selling energy back to the grid - but is it worth it?

There's speculation that some EV owners could earn thousands of dollars over time by selling excess energy stored in their EV battery back to the grid. While this sounds appealing, the reality is that feed-in tariffs (FiTs) are quite low, meaning you might not see significant financial benefits. Instead, it makes more sense to maximise your solar energy consumption rather than relying on low returns from grid exports. 

4. A reliable backup power source

If you experience a power outage, a V2X-enabled EV can serve as a backup power system, keeping essential appliances running. This added protection can be invaluable, especially in regions affected by grid instability or extreme weather conditions. 

Read more: How to use your solar battery during a blackout

5. Potential to replace a home battery bank

With the ability to store and supply energy, your EV could reduce or even eliminate the need for a separate home battery system. This not only saves on upfront costs but also consolidates your energy storage into one versatile device - your car. But this is completely dependent on the amount of stored energy you require or preferred days of autonomy. 

Source: Sigenergy

Disadvantages of V2X

So, are there any drawbacks? There are a couple of disadvantages to V2X to keep in mind:

1. Potential battery degradation

One common concern with V2X technology is the impact on battery lifespan. Frequent discharging to power your home or export to the grid could contribute faster to wear and tear. 

However, advancements in battery management systems are helping to minimise the risk and manufacturers are optimising EVs to handle bidirectional charging more efficiently.

2. Risk of draining your EV's battery

Using your EV as a power source means there's a chance you could drain the battery when you need it most - like when you have to drive. While the average EV can power a home for up to two days, careful energy management is essential to ensure you're never left without enough charge for your daily travel needs. 

Smart charging systems can help by setting limits on how much energy is discharged, you always have enough range to get where you need to go.

What do you need for a V2X setup?

If you've decided you'd like to tap into your EV for the added benefits of V2X (once it becomes available), there are a few things you need to prepare:

1. Check whether your EV is compatible with bidirectional chargers

Currently, EV manufacturers are slowing Australia's adoption of bidirectional charging. But, there are a handful of manufacturers that already offer compatible models or are in the process of releasing them. Currently, the following makes and models are confirmed to be compatible with bidirectional charging in Australia:

2. Install a bidirectional charger system

You'll need to purchase a bidirectional charger for your EV. There are only a handful of manufacturers with products available in Australia, but we recommend the Sigenergy 25kW bidirectional DC EV charger. It's an excellent product that integrates with the Sigenergy hybrid inverter and SigenStor battery modules. 

Being a DC EV charger, as opposed to an AC EV charger (like most), you gain access to more energy. This is because a DC charger sends electricity directly to your car's battery, bypassing the need for an onboard charger (which limits your charging speed).

This also means you have access to the full 25kW when sending energy from your car back to your home or loads. 

3. Use a trusted installer

Do your research and recruit a highly reputable and trusted installer to install your bidirectional charger and teach you the ropes. Signs of a trusted installer include:

• 20+ years of experience in the industry (longevity is a strong indicator that they won't leave you high and dry)
• On-site inspection to review your switchboard and installation location (so they can provide an accurate, fixed quote - no price jump scares on the day of installation)
• In-house electricians (don't use subcontractors... they don't have a vested interest in your installation)
• In-house service department (to help you maintain your system, ensure longevity, and process warranty claims)

Springers Solar is Queensland's most trusted solar installer and is proud to offer bidirectional charger installations. Contact us here.

4. Wait for grid regulations to catch up

Word on the street is that Australian grid codes will permit bidirectional charging by 2030... but we're optimistic that it'll become available sooner. 

Springers Solar | Queensland's Most Experienced Solar Installer

Springers Solar provides quality components with proven performance, backed by industry-leading warranties, and dedicated after-sales support. Thousands of satisfied customers over 23 years of operation make Springers Solar one of the most established and experienced solar companies in Australia. 

Springers Solar has received multiple awards for design and installation and is a certified/preferred installer for a large range of solar panel, inverter, and solar battery manufacturers, including Sungrow, Tesla, and SolarEdge. 

Our dedicated in-house team of electrical engineers, project managers, solar PV designers, solar installers, and electricians work closely with you before, during, and long after your project is completed. Springers Solar offers an industry-leading 10-year workmanship warranty which is a testament to our qualified staff and offers you outstanding value and peace of mind.