With electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerating in New Zealand, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology – where EVs supply power back to a house, building or to the grid at times of high system need – offers significant potential to support the electricity system and deliver financial value.
A new multi-client study by Concept Consulting and Retyna, supported by MinterEllisonRuddWatts and other leading energy and transport sector organisations, reveals:
- V2G could deliver up to NZD2,000 per car per year to the electricity system.
- Electric trucks returning to depots in the evening could contribute up to NZD10,000 per truck per year, and milk tankers could provide up to NZD25,000 per truck per year during winter downtime.
Realising this value requires:
- Consistent V2G arrangements across electricity distribution networks.
- Trans-Tasman alignment for charger standards.
- Development of ‘type-of-use’ tariffs to reward V2G participation.
- Bundled consumer offerings combining EVs, chargers, and power deals.
- Clear guidance for consumers on V2G-capable vehicles and chargers.
The report emphasises that technical readiness, commercial models, and consumer engagement are key to unlocking V2G’s full potential.
MinterEllisonRuddWatts was pleased to contribute to the report alongside AA Research Foundation, Aurora Energy, Ecotricity, EECA, Fonterra, Horizon Networks, Meridian Energy, Orion, PowerCo, StarCharge, Transpower, Unison Networks and WEL Networks.
A full copy of the report can be found on Concept Consulting’s website at: https://www.concept.co.nz/updates.html
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