New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) announced on September 29, 2026 that it will run the country’s largest trial of two-way EV chargers. Up to 100 bidirectional chargers will be installed across homes, commercial fleets and depots in several urban areas, including Auckland. The trial is a partnership with OpenLoop, the EV charging services arm of the lines company Counties Energy.
Key Takeaways
- EECA plans up to 100 two-way chargers in New Zealand’s largest V2G trial.
- The trial covers homes, commercial fleets and depots, including sites in Auckland.
- It will test technical requirements, customer economics and tariff rewards.
- Smart-charging capability is likely to become the baseline for new chargers.
Key Figures
- Chargers: up to 100 two-way units, possibly including a small number for heavy vehicles.
- Settings: homes, commercial fleets and depot environments.
- Earlier trial: a smaller Queenstown trial is installing 30–40 chargers across homes and businesses during 2026 and early 2027.
- Related rules: EECA recently closed consultation on minimum smart functions for new EV chargers above 2.4 kW sold in New Zealand.
What the Trial Will Test
EECA said two-way chargers with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) functions are not yet widely available in New Zealand, and local standards are still developing. The trial will study:
- what chargers need to interact with the electricity system, and how they respond to price changes and peak demand;
- how they add value for different homes and businesses, and how people use them;
- how retailer or aggregator tariffs could reward owners for sharing stored energy;
- the installation, safety, compliance and software requirements for wider rollout.
EECA research shows that home charging is the main way New Zealanders charge, which is why parked cars are seen as a possible storage resource. Findings will be published regularly and used to guide future policy.
What It Means
For now, V2G is a trial technology in New Zealand, not a mainstream product. The near-term message for buyers is about smart charging: chargers that can schedule sessions, respond to tariffs and connect to energy management systems are likely to become the baseline. Installers and distributors should favour connected, updatable hardware and keep watching for EECA’s final smart-charger rules.
Our residential charging solutions include wallboxes with app and RFID control, such as the EV-ACT3204E. Distributors serving New Zealand can contact us through the distributor program to discuss local requirements.
Related Reading
- Bidirectional Charging Explained: V2L, V2H and V2G
- Which EVs Can Do Bidirectional Charging?
- EV Charging News: New Zealand Offers Zero-Interest Loans to Speed Up Charger Rollout
