BYD Sealion 7 joins Amber’s vehicle-to-grid program

BYD and Amber Electric have expanded their vehicle-to-grid (V2G) partnership to include the BYD Sealion 7, allowing eligible owners to use their vehicle’s battery to supply electricity to their home or export it to the grid.

The electric SUV becomes the second BYD model supported through the partnership, following the BYD Atto 3.

According to the companies’ announcement, Sealion 7 owners participating in the program will retain BYD battery warranty support for V2G use. That support applies to eligible participants, rather than representing approval for every bidirectional-charging installation.

“The Atto 3’s involvement in V2G has shown us the value this can unlock for customers, and as strong supporters of the technology, we’re proud to broaden that partnership with Amber,” said BYD chief product officer Sajid Hasan.

Program participants will also be able to purchase eligible new BYD vehicles at a six per cent discount off the base recommended retail price, including GST.

The offer covers the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic and Premium, along with the Sealion 7 Premium and Performance. It's a discount on the base vehicle price, rather than a stated reduction on the complete drive-away price or the cost of installing V2G equipment.

It's unclear whether the discount can be combined with other BYD offers.

Amber says its V2G program has more than 50 operating sites and a waitlist exceeding 8000 people, with plans to expand to 1000 households. The company describes it as Australia’s largest live residential V2G program.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced an additional $13.6 million for the expansion in May, taking its total funding for Amber’s broader electric vehicle charging project to $16.8 million. ARENA said the project would expand both bidirectional charging and conventional smart charging, with the latter reaching up to 2000 households.

V2G uses a compatible bidirectional charger to send electricity from a vehicle’s battery back into the grid. Amber’s system is designed to charge the vehicle using rooftop solar or lower-priced electricity, then supply the home or export energy when appropriate. Owners can set a required charge level and departure time through its automation system.

That's different from the vehicle-to-load (V2L) function already fitted as standard to the Sealion 7, which allows owners to power individual appliances from the car. Having V2L doesn’t, by itself, provide access to Amber’s grid-export program.

Amber’s published program requirements include an eligible vehicle, compatible charging equipment, and an Amber subscription. Applicants seeking a discounted charger through the ARENA-backed program must also undergo a site assessment and obtain an installation quote from an authorised installer.

Installation costs depend on the property and chosen equipment.

“It means a much bigger group of Australians can access V2G and start earning money from a car that would otherwise spend most of its time parked,” said Amber Electric head of V2G Clare Rainbow.

The expansion comes as other manufacturers explore the technology locally, with Leapmotor recently confirming preliminary Australian V2G testing and discussions about a possible collaboration with Amber. Mitsubishi was the first automaker in Australia to gain V2G approval via its plug-in hybrid Outlander and Eclipse Cross.

Amber and BYD will present the expanded partnership at Everything Electric at Sydney Olympic Park from September 18 to 20, with representatives at stand C14.

Owners can register interest in the vehicle discount or join the V2G waitlist through Amber.

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