October was a strong month for our V2X fleet, with higher volatility driving a big increase in value. The fleet generated more than double September's value from powering homes and exporting to the grid, with V2G exports worth more than V2H for the first time.
The NSW electricity price spike was one example of October's wholesale price volatility, which helped drive stronger V2G earnings across the fleet. Meanwhile, battery electric vehicles outsold petrol-only cars in Australia for the third consecutive month, with 24,845 EVs sold compared with 23,605 petrol-only vehicles.
What happened across the fleet this month
Across October, the fleet discharged 9,235 kWh from EV batteries, generating $3,764 in value. Vehicle-to-home (V2H) supplied 5,094 kWh, powering homes instead of drawing from the grid, while vehicle-to-grid (V2G) supplied 4,141 kWh, sending electricity back to the grid. The fleet also covered approximately 48,100 km of driving, equivalent to around $9,404 in avoided petrol costs at $2.30/L.
The numbers
Fleet
- Fleet size: 64 connected sites
- Period: October 2026
Energy in, energy out
- Total charged into vehicles: 20,519 kWh. 8,086 kWh came from the grid and 12,433 kWh from home solar and batteries
- Total discharged from vehicles: 9,235 kWh. 5,094 kWh powered homes via V2H and 4,141 kWh was exported to the grid via V2G
What it means in dollars
- Value returned via V2H and V2G: $3,764. $1,677 came from avoiding grid electricity purchases through V2H (32.9 c/kWh on average), while $2,087 was earned from V2G exports (50.4 c/kWh on average)
- Cost of charging: $2,226, averaging 10.8 c/kWh
- Equivalent petrol costs avoided: Approximately $9,404, based on petrol at $2.30/L
Our learnings
V2G overtook V2H in value
For the first time, exporting electricity to the grid delivered more value than powering homes directly. V2G earnings jumped from $489 in September to $2,087 in October, despite the fleet exporting only 12% more energy. V2G accounted for 45% of discharged energy but delivered 55% of the total value, as higher wholesale prices meant customers could earn considerably more from exporting their stored energy.
V2H delivered 50% more value on the same energy
The fleet supplied 5,094 kWh to homes through V2H in October, almost identical to September's 5,096 kWh. But the value increased from $1,116 to $1,677, a 50% jump. This came down to the cost of the grid electricity customers were avoiding. With higher prices during the periods when EVs were powering homes, the same amount of energy delivered greater savings.
More charging came from home solar
Around 61% of the energy charged into EVs came from home solar and batteries, up from 54% in September and the highest share since we started reporting. The average charging cost also increased, from 7.2 c/kWh to 10.8 c/kWh, as grid charging became more expensive. However, the average value of energy discharged reached 40.8 c/kWh, showing the difference between what it cost to charge and what that stored energy was worth when used later.
Two customers, two different setups
The fleet-wide numbers tell us how October performed overall, but individual results can look quite different depending on a customer's solar setup, electricity tariff, driving habits and how often their EV is plugged in. These two sites provide a good example. Both scored 5/5 in our system for plug-in behaviour, meaning their EVs were consistently available during the midday solar window and evening peak, but they're on different electricity networks, with different tariffs, and only one has a separate home battery.
Essential Energy: An EV without a home battery
This customer has rooftop solar and is on Essential Energy's Sun Soaker time-of-use tariff, which has cheaper network rates between 10am and 3pm and rewards exports between 5pm and 8pm. That works well for an EV that can charge from solar during the day and export electricity in the evening.
In October, the EV charged 697 kWh, with 93% coming from home solar. It discharged 598 kWh, sending 457 kWh to the grid and using 141 kWh to power the home. The customer earned $203 from V2G and received $53 in V2H value, with $56 in charging costs, leaving a net result of $200, up from $88 in September.
The amount of energy charged and discharged was relatively similar across both months, but V2G earnings increased from $62 to $203. With minimal driving during October, the EV was regularly available to power the home and export electricity when prices were higher.
Ausgrid: An EV alongside a home battery
Our second customer is on Ausgrid's network and already has a home battery helping manage their electricity use. Their tariff rewards exports between 4pm and 9pm and includes a demand charge during summer and winter, based on the highest electricity draw during peak periods. This creates opportunities for the EV to work alongside the home battery, both by exporting electricity and helping reduce grid demand.
In October, the EV charged 195 kWh, with 71% coming from home solar and batteries. It discharged 267 kWh, supplying 176 kWh to the home and exporting 91 kWh to the grid. That delivered $62 in V2H value and $95 in V2G credits, with $27 in charging costs, leaving a net result of $130, compared with $36 in September.
The amount of energy charged and discharged was again similar to September, but V2G earnings jumped from $10 to $95. The demand charge wasn't active in October, but it applies from November, when using the EV to power the home during peak periods could help reduce those costs too.
What these results show
Both customers had similar plug-in habits to previous months, with their EVs regularly connected during solar generation and evening peak periods. Their electricity tariffs reward that behaviour, and October's higher wholesale prices meant those same habits delivered considerably more value. The results also show how V2X can work across different home setups, whether an EV is providing storage alongside rooftop solar or working with an existing home battery.
What this means for the average V2X home
Across the 64 connected sites, the average home received around $59 in V2H and V2G value in October, before charging costs, while still covering approximately 752 km of driving.
- V2H value: ~$26
- V2G value: ~$33
- Total V2H and V2G value: ~$59
- Driving: ~752 km
- Equivalent petrol costs avoided: ~$147
Petrol comparison based on an EV using 18.5 kWh/100 km versus a petrol car using 8.5 L/100 km, with petrol at $2.30/L.
On the horizon: summer
October's results gave us an early indication of what higher wholesale price volatility could mean for V2X over summer. As rooftop solar generation increases, daytime prices can fall, sometimes below zero, while higher electricity demand in the evening can create more valuable opportunities to export. For V2X customers, having an EV plugged in during those periods means it can charge when electricity is cheaper and discharge when prices are higher. Returns will depend on market conditions, individual tariffs and how often vehicles are available, but October showed how much difference those factors can make.
And as a reminder, the BYD Sealion 7 is now part of Amber's V2G program, with eligible owners receiving battery warranty support from BYD for participation. Amber V2G participants can also access 6% off the base RRP of an eligible BYD Atto 3 or Sealion 7.
Join our waitlist to find out when V2X might be available for your home, or learn more about our V2X offering.
