Australia’s EVs join the grid

StarCharge's new Halo charger lets EVs send power back to the grid, saving money and boosting energy flexibility.

4 Jul 2025

Australia’s electric vehicles are gaining a new role as miniature power stations. The launch of StarCharge’s Halo, a bidirectional DC wallbox charger, promises to turn cars from mere consumers of electricity into sources of it. The device allows EVs to draw energy from the grid when demand is low, then return it during peak periods. This so-called vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology could help stabilise the grid while shaving energy costs for businesses and households.

The technology is not entirely novel, but StarCharge’s Halo marks one of the first commercial attempts to bring it to the Australian market. Available in 7.4kW and 11kW models, the charger supports industry-standard protocols (ISO 15118-2 and 15118-20) and open charge-point protocols (OCPP 2.0.1 and 2.1), making it compatible with many modern EVs. Compact and efficient, with performance reaching up to 96 percent, it is pitched for both homes and light commercial use.

Getting such a system to work involves more than clever engineering. StarCharge has spent two years adapting the Halo to Australia’s idiosyncratic grid, securing key exemptions from distribution network service providers and nearing certification under AS 4777.2, the national standard for inverter-connected systems. Without such approvals, bidirectional charging would remain a technical curiosity.

The broader vision is alluring. EVs could become part of a distributed energy network, reducing reliance on centralised power stations and making better use of renewable generation. But the economics are still evolving. Regulatory frameworks remain patchy, and most utilities do not yet pay consumers for returning power to the grid. Without clear price signals or incentives, uptake may remain limited to energy enthusiasts and corporate fleets.

Still, with EV ownership on the rise and grids under strain from summer peaks and coal-plant retirements, interest in flexible demand is growing. Technologies like the Halo may not yet revolutionise the energy system, but they could offer a useful step toward a smarter one.