New Zealand's vehicle-to-grid opportunity
Overview
Globally, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology is emerging as a transformative solution at the intersection of transport and energy systems. As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates worldwide, V2G enables EVs to act as distributed energy resources—storing, supplying, and balancing electricity across homes, businesses, and power grids.
International trials and early deployments have demonstrated V2G’s potential to reduce energy costs, support renewable integration, enhance grid resilience, and unlock new value streams for consumers and fleet operators. V2G could be a key enabler of the transition to low-carbon, flexible, and consumer-centric energy systems.
To understand the potential of V2G in New Zealand, a consortium including government agencies, energy companies and the NZAA Research Foundation funded this feasibility study, which was carried out by Concept Consulting and Retyna.
Key Findings
International trials confirm feasibility:
V2G is technically viable and does not significantly degrade modern EV batteries.
New Zealand is well-placed for V2G:
Strong electricity networks, high off-street parking rates, and unified regulatory structures support V2G deployment.
There are three ways New Zealand could benefit from V2G:
- Transport electrification can replace imported fuels, potentially saving $2.9 billion per year by switching to locally generated electricity.
- Compatible EVs with a dedicated home charger can help flatten peak demand, reducing the need for costly network upgrades.
- Individual EV owners could offset vehicle ownership costs by up to $2,000 per car per annum
To realise the benefits of V2G, the report recommends that:
Consumers choose compatible EVs and install dedicated home charging stations.
Government:
- Ensures there are enough public charging stations.
- Implements policy and pricing structures that make V2G attractive.
Authors
Simon Coates, Concept Consulting
Liz Yeaman, Retyna
Project Manager
Dr Christopher Stachowski, NZAA Research Foundation Programme Manager
Report
New Zealand's Vehicle-To-Grid Opportunity, September 2025
Page last updated: November 2025