Electric vehicles (EVs) are often marketed as the future’s “batteries on wheels,” with promises that they will one day power homes and even send electricity back into the grid. In Australia, where rooftop solar is already widespread and electricity markets are under pressure, the idea of cars doubling as mini power stations sounds appealing. Yet this vision remains more theory than practice. Bi-directional charging technology is still expensive, regulatory frameworks are incomplete, and few vehicles on the road today are capable of feeding energy back.
What is already possible (and urgently needed) is far less complicated. The real opportunity lies in how and when Australians charge their EVs. Shifting charging from evening peaks to the middle of the day, when solar generation is at its highest and wholesale electricity prices are at their lowest, offers immediate benefits. It reduces stress on the grid, helps soak up excess renewable energy that might otherwise be curtailed, and lowers costs for households and retailers alike. This doesn’t require futuristic infrastructure, just a smarter approach to charging behaviour and access to the right charging locations.
The challenge here is not about turning every EV into a power station. It’s about recognising that EVs, simply by being charged at the right time, can quietly become partners in balancing the grid. This shift is already within reach, and it could make the difference between a strained energy system and one that runs more smoothly as electrification accelerates.
Rethinking EV’s role in Australia’s energy mix
EVs are arriving on Australian roads at a pace. Sales doubled in 2024 compared to the year before, and major carmakers are now committing to phase out petrol models altogether within the next decade. This rapid adoption raises questions about how millions of EVs will interact with a grid that is already under pressure from growing demand, ageing infrastructure, and the transition away from coal. Much of the public conversation has centred on Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, with the idea that cars will not just consume electricity but actively supply it back.
The problem is that V2G, while technically feasible, is nowhere near being a mass-market solution. The charging equipment is costly, few vehicles are compatible, and energy retailers are still working out how to value exported electricity from cars. Meanwhile, the regulator approvals required to ensure safety and grid stability remain unfinished, leaving the concept trapped between pilot projects and promises. Waiting for V2F to scale risks missing the bigger picture: EVs do not need to give energy back to have a positive impact.
By reframing the role of EVs as flexible demand rather than mini power stations, Australia can unlock benefits immediately. What matters most is when and where these vehicles draw power. In a system dominated by solar generation, every EV that charges during the day reduces the amount of renewable energy wasted and cuts reliance on gas-fired generation at night.
See this way, EVs become quiet but vital partners in stabilising the grid, a role that doesn’t require new technology so much as smarter use of the infrastructure already in place.
Why charging behaviour matters more than grid export
The nation’s electricity system is shaped by timing. Solar panels now supply more than a third of the nation’s power during the middle of the day, yet much of that energy goes unused because household and business demand does not match the supply curve. By evening, when families return home and air conditioners, ovens, and TVs switch on, demand spikes just as solar output collapses. Gas peakers and coal plants are then forced to fill the gap, often at high cost and with high emissions.
EV charging habits have the potential to either worsen this imbalance or help resolve it. At present, most Aussies who own an EV plug in at night, when electricity is both dirtier and more expensive to generate. This pattern mirrors the traditional refuelling mindset; cars are “filled up” when people return home. If this behaviour continues as EV numbers grow, the evening peak will become more extreme, placing greater strain on an already stretched grid and pushing wholesale prices higher.
The alternative is straightforward: shifting charging to the middle of the day. By aligning EVERY demand with solar output, households can tap into cleaner, cheaper energy while easing evening stress on the system. This change alone could absorb gigawatts of renewable electricity that might otherwise be curtailed and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel back-up.
The point is clear: EVs don’t need to export power to the grid to be useful. Simply adjusting charging behaviour turns them into an asset rather than a liability.
How EVs reduce grid stress
The greatest strength of EVs is not their ability to export energy but their capacity to absorb it when the grid needs support. During sunny afternoons, when rooftop and utility-scale solar plants are generating more electricity than households and businesses consume, EVs can act as flexible sponges. Every vehicle plugged in at the right time helps soak up excess supply, preventing the need for curtailment and stabilising wholesale prices.
This has direct benefits for the grid. By drawing power when it is abundant and cheap, EVs flatten demand curves and reduce the evening ramp that puts so much strain on coal and gas plants. For network operators, this means less pressure to invest in costly upgrades to handle peaks. For households, it means lower long-term costs, as fewer grid reinforcements translate into savings that flow back through electricity bills.
The effect is especially important in Australia’s diverse energy landscape. In urban areas, smart EV charging reduces congestion in local networks where many homes export solar at once. In regional and rural areas, where grids are weaker and distances are longer, EVs timed to charge during daylight hours ease reliance on diesel back-up and improve stability for entire communities. These are not headline-grabbing outcomes, but they are critical for ensuring the energy transition works smoothly. In this sense, EVs become quiet partners, absorbing, balancing, and supporting rather than straining the grid.
Simple steps that make a big difference
Unlocking the benefits of EVs as grid partners does not require futuristic solutions; it comes down to access and behaviour. For households, the simplest step is to make use of smart charging features that already exist. Many EVs and chargers allow users to set timers, so charging behind when solar is abundant or when tariffs are lowest. For homes with rooftop solar, this means drawing directly from panels in the middle of the day instead of adding load at night.
Workplace and community charging will play a larger role as EV adoption grows. Offices, shopping centres, schools, and council facilities are all well-placed to host chargers that align with the hours cars are typically parked. Installing daytime chargers at these locations captures energy that would otherwise go to waste while offering convenience to drivers. For businesses, providing staff or public charging can also be a visible sustainability investment, linking corporate commitments to practical outcomes.
Government incentives and retailer offerings can accelerate the shift. Time-of-use (ToU) tariffs that reward daytime charging, rebates for workplace chargers, and stronger planning rules for new developments are all tools that can nudge behaviour in the right direction. Just as rooftop solar adoption was propelled by targeted support, the same approach can encourage Aussies to charge smarter, not just more often.
EVs don’t need to power the grid to be useful. Their value comes from charging at the right time. By aligning with solar output, Australians can cut costs, reduce stress on the network, and turn cars into quiet partners in the energy transition.
Energy Matters has been in the solar industry since 2005 and has helped over 40,000 Australian households in their journey to energy independence.
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