April 16, 2026 by University of Adelaide
Collected at: https://techxplore.com/news/2026-04-electric-vehicles-key-efficient-home.html
An Australian study has found that electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with vehicle-to-home (V2H) technology can significantly reduce household electricity costs and lessen the need for large, costly home battery systems. Researchers from Flinders University, Adelaide University and Murdoch University investigated how using an EV as a mobile energy storage unit influences the optimal sizing of rooftop solar (PV) and home battery storage in grid-connected residential homes.
By treating the EV as a mobile energy storage unit, V2H enables households to use stored EV energy to power appliances during expensive peak-demand periods, slashing grid imports and boosting energy efficiency.
The study analyzed three residential energy setups:
- Solar + battery + EV with V2H
- Solar + EV
- EV only
Under the most efficient configuration (the first scenario), the researchers found that a 7-kW solar system paired with a 9-kW home battery delivered the lowest annual electricity cost of $2451.
The cost of electricity dropped to 27 cents per kWh and grid electricity imports fell by 78% compared to a house with no solar or battery.
When V2H capability was removed, the home required a larger 13-kWh home battery to achieve a similar performance, resulting in a 10.8% increase in annual electricity costs.
Lead researcher Golsa Azarbakhsh from Flinders University said the results highlight the growing role that EVs play beyond transport.
“Our work shows that enabling electric vehicles with V2H technology can play an important role in supporting renewable energy use in homes,” said Azarbakhsh, a Ph.D. candidate at Flinders University’s College of Science and Engineering Tonsley campus. “Vehicle-to-home capability can reduce the need for dedicated home battery storage while lowering household electricity costs by about 6.8%.”
Adelaide University collaborator Dr. Solmaz Kahourzade said the findings reveal the value of V2H in the Australian energy landscape.
“South Australia already has some of the highest rooftop solar uptake in the world, but many households still depend heavily on the grid during peak times,” according to Dr. Kahourzade. “If we want to accelerate electrification and reduce energy bills at the same time, V2H is one of the strongest tools available.”
The study used real electricity tariffs, weather data, and household load profiles from Adelaide, incorporating uncertainties such as EV arrival times, departure times, and battery charge levels. It also accounted for South Australia’s 1.5 kW export limit for residential solar systems.
Under these realistic conditions, V2H improved solar self-consumption, reduced grid reliance, and delivered year-round benefits—particularly during winter when solar output is lower.
“With EV adoption rising and more households investing in rooftop solar, V2H technology could soon become a mainstream tool for managing energy costs,” Azarbakhsh said.
The researchers note that future studies could explore workplace and public EV charging or apply the model to high-density housing such as apartment buildings.
“Impact of Vehicle-to-Home Integration on Optimal Capacity of Solar Battery System for Houses” was recently published at the Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC).
More information
Golsa Azarbakhsh et al, Impact of Vehicle-to-Home Integration on Optimal Capacity of Solar-Battery System for Houses, 2025 IEEE PES 35th Australasian Universities Power Engineering Conference (AUPEC) (2025). DOI: 10.1109/aupec66173.2025.11219607
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