Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, heralded as a revolutionary advancement for electric vehicle (EV) owners and the power grid, is facing significant hurdles in Australia despite the approval of national standards in November 2024. While the concept promises to allow EV owners to power their homes and potentially earn revenue by feeding energy back into the grid, Hyundai has voiced substantial concerns regarding safety and reliability, urging caution for early adopters.
V2G Promises and Early Adoption Realities
The potential for V2G technology to reshape the energy landscape and offer financial benefits to EV drivers has generated considerable excitement. Federal energy and climate minister Chris Bowen optimistically stated in November 2024, “If you’ve got a car with V2G capability and a bidirectional device, you could be using that car to power your house before the end of this year.” However, the practical implementation has proven more complex.
The availability of V2G-compatible vehicles and approved bidirectional charging equipment remains limited. While a few early adopters may be experiencing the benefits of V2G, Hyundai warns that these pioneers might be exposing themselves to significant safety and reliability risks.
Hyundai’s Identified V2G Safety and Reliability Issues
During the recent Hyundai Elexio launch, Scott Nargar, Hyundai Senior Manager of Future Mobility & Government Relations and the project lead for V2G, elaborated on the manufacturer’s concerns. The core of the issue lies in the communication protocols between charging equipment and electric vehicles, which differ from the Australian AS4777.2 standards for inverters.
The international standard governing V2G communication is ISO 15118. Hyundai notes that many bidirectional charging equipment manufacturers are currently employing workarounds or “hacks” within earlier versions of this standard, specifically ISO 15118-1 or ISO 15118-2. These methods essentially trick the vehicle into discharging power while appearing to be in a charging state.
The more advanced and secure protocol, ISO 15118-20, which is designed to handle bidirectional power transfer, limitations on power export, and crucial cybersecurity measures, is not yet widely adopted by existing equipment. Hyundai advocates for the exclusive use of this next-generation standard.
Hyundai’s Formal Response to Government Review
In a formal submission to the government regarding the electric car discount, Hyundai summarised findings from independent V2G testing. The company strongly recommended that all V2G trials in Australia should exclusively use EV manufacturer-approved technology compliant with ISO 15118-20.
Hyundai highlighted critical issues observed during their testing:
- Bypassing OEM Systems: Some V2G chargers operate by bypassing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) software and hardware. Hyundai stated, “Some V2G chargers currently available in Australia achieve bi-directional charging operation by bypassing OEM software and hardware, which is not recommended due to potential safety risk, vehicle damage and impacts on manufacturer warranties and building insurance.”
- Interoperability Challenges: Ensuring seamless and reliable communication between vehicles and V2G chargers remains a significant challenge. The company reported, “Testing to date has identified communication and inconsistency issues across several V2G charger platforms. Further development and validation are required to deliver a safe and reliable consumer experience.”
Risks to Vehicle Safety and Battery Longevity
Hyundai’s testing has revealed alarming behaviours in vehicles attempting V2G operations with non-compliant equipment. In some instances, vehicles were observed discharging power without the driver’s knowledge, indicated by a charging status on the dashboard but a 0 kW charging rate.
A primary concern is the lack of vehicle control in these non-standard discharging states. If the vehicle cannot properly manage the discharge process, it may be unable to halt the session in case of an issue, potentially leading to damage.
Furthermore, when systems are bypassed, there is no assurance that critical safety mechanisms are still functioning. “There is also no way of knowing what safety systems or other subsystems of the vehicle have been modified or disabled to get the battery pack to discharge, such as critical battery monitoring, protection or cooling systems,” Hyundai explained.
The potential consequences are severe, ranging from battery damage to thermal runaway and fire risks. This is particularly concerning for vehicles that have undergone accident repairs, where battery integrity might not have been thoroughly reassessed.
Hyundai has documented instances of excessive discharge, reaching up to 30 kW, and batteries being drained to zero capacity, which can permanently ‘brick’ the battery pack, rendering it irreparable.
Addressing Reliability and Warranty Uncertainties
Beyond safety, reliability issues are prevalent. Inconsistent connection establishment between chargers and vehicles often necessitates multiple attempts to initiate charging or discharging sessions. Charger engineers continuously release updates to circumvent these issues, potentially creating new vulnerabilities.
This current landscape leaves early V2G adopters facing significant uncertainty regarding equipment performance, liability in case of vehicle damage, and the validity of warranties, especially when manufacturers have not officially certified their vehicles for V2G use.
Hyundai has formally requested that companies listing their vehicles as V2G compatible, without explicit manufacturer approval, remove such claims. Examples include third-party compatibility lists from some bidirectional charging equipment providers.
Hyundai’s Path Forward: Testing and Advocacy
To mitigate these risks and ensure a safe and reliable V2G experience, Hyundai is actively engaged in testing its vehicles alongside bidirectional charging equipment from various manufacturers. These tests are conducted at Essential Energy facilities in Port Macquarie, with plans to install chargers at Hyundai’s head office in Macquarie Park.
Nargar confirmed that a Hyundai Ioniq 9 has been updated with software supporting ISO 15118-20 protocols and will be used for ongoing validation. The company’s South Korean factory is also evaluating the feasibility of retrofitting older Ioniq models with necessary hardware or software upgrades.
Through government submissions, Hyundai is advocating for regulatory bodies and funding agencies like ARENA to mandate the use of ISO 15118-20 and establish clear testing and validation frameworks for all future V2G initiatives.
Industry Collaboration and Early Trials
Recognising the need for industry-wide solutions, ARENA established the Vehicle-Grid Network (VGN) project in late 2025. This initiative aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving within the sector to address the challenges highlighted by Hyundai.
Several energy companies have launched V2G trial programs. Origin Energy is offering a subscription for BYD Atto 3 vehicles paired with StarCharge V2G Halo chargers. AGL has partnered with Hyundai, Kia, BYD, and Zeekr, providing 50 selected participants with discounted bidirectional chargers and installation.
When approached for comment, an Origin spokesperson stated, “We’re continuing to work closely with BYD and StarCharge on vehicle-to-grid trials, which are progressing well.” They added, “Technology is constantly evolving and the purpose of our current trials is to ensure safety, reliability and customer value under controlled, real-world conditions. Our aim remains to expand this process to customer trials during 2026.” This suggests Origin’s trials are still in controlled, early stages, with broader customer rollout anticipated in 2026.
The AGL media team acknowledged the initial inquiry but had not provided further details at the time of reporting. This article will be updated should they respond.
For those interested in a deeper technical understanding of V2G protocols, a video simulating and dissecting a bidirectional charging session using ISO 15118-20 is available for viewing.