BYD adds its best selling EV to Australia’s biggest vehicle-to-grid trial

Australia's largest vehicle-to-grid trial is expanding to include BYD's Sealion 7, the country's second best-selling EV model. The trial, run by Amber Electric and backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency with $13.6 million in funding, has grown to 1,000 vehicles after high demand. BYD is offering a 6 per cent discount on both the Sealion 7 and its Atto 3 model to trial participants, offsetting the cost of the Star Charge V2G hardware. Amber reports over 60 clients enrolled with more than 8,000 on a waitlist. BYD remains the only carmaker participating, partly because it manufactures its own batteries and can control warranty terms.

Where this fits

Vehicle-to-grid technology addresses a real reliability problem: the need to shift wind and solar output in time to meet demand. But it deepens Australia's dependence on a single Chinese supplier for both the vehicle and the battery technology that will provide that flexibility. BYD's monopoly on V2G participation here is not accidental. It reflects the supply-chain reality of Australia's renewables transition: the manufacturing, storage and now the grid-balancing hardware are controlled by one strategic rival.

What it means

V2G can reduce peak demand and smooth variable renewable output, but only if Australia has multiple suppliers and domestic battery capacity. Tying grid stability to BYD's cooperation and goodwill is a sovereignty risk, not a solution. The trial shows the technology works; it also shows how far Australia has already moved toward Chinese control of critical grid infrastructure.