Australian EV owners will soon have access to a locally designed and manufactured bi-directional charger. This comes after the Clean Energy Council approval of the Numbat, a new 7 kW V2X unit developed by Adelaide-based company V2Grid.
The certification makes the Numbat the first bidirectional charger in Australia cleared for residential installation, marking a major milestone for drivers eager to use their EVs as a home energy resource.
Turning EVs Into Home Power Sources
Bidirectional charging, often called V2X, allows an electric vehicle to push electricity back into a home (V2H) or into the broader grid (V2G). While many EVs overseas already feature this capability, Australian buyers have long been unable to access compliant hardware.
The Numbat changes that. The wall-mounted unit draws power directly from the EV’s battery, meaning households do not need a separate battery system to store or export energy.
V2Grid co-founder Matt Downie said the approval is a significant step forward for the local EV industry.
“Achieving CEC approval for the Numbat is a proud moment for our team,” he said. “As the first bidirectional charger to meet these standards in Australia, it opens the door for EV owners to turn their vehicles into mobile energy resources.”
Downie added that the Australian-made system supports renewable energy goals by enabling drivers to make greater use of stored solar energy and help stabilise the grid during peak demand.
Designed and Built in South Australia
Both the software and hardware behind the Numbat were developed in Australia, with V2Grid preparing to begin manufacturing at its new facility in Wingfield, South Australia.
One of the standout features is support for both CCS2 and CHAdeMO connectors, making it compatible with older models such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV. CHAdeMO has largely disappeared from the Australian market, making this flexibility notable for early EV adopters.
Testing to date has included multiple Leaf generations and the Outlander PHEV. While V2Grid says interest from CCS2 vehicle owners, now the dominant plug type, is expected to be strong.
The Numbat is priced at $10,000 plus GST, with installation starting at around $1,000 depending on cable routing and switchboard access. V2Grid expects costs to fall once local manufacturing is fully operational.
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