Japanese car giant Nissan says it has slashed the cost of vehicle-to-grid technology, saying that new on board units will allow it to deliver bi-directional charging at the same cost as regular home charging units today.
Nissan has been the only major car-maker to roll out V2G technology, and did this a decade ago with the release of the world’s first mass-market EV, the Nissan Leaf.
But despite a huge number of trials, including in Australia, the rollout of the technology has been limited by local network standards, and by the cost of the bi-directional charging technology, which has been pitched at around $10,000 – more than could likely be recovered by selling power and services to the grid.
Nissan says this has now changed with the development of an on-board charging solution that will enable the technology to be delivered at the same price of mono-directional chargers now.
“The technology we are bringing to customers is a potential game-changer for how we view the car,” said Hughes Desmarchelier, the head of global electrification ecosystems and EV programs said in a statement.
“Not just as a means of getting from A to B, but as a mobile energy storage unit, capable of saving people money, supporting the transition of our energy systems away from fossil fuels and bringing us closer to a carbon-free future.
“The breakthrough in an on-board solution for two-way charging will be a substantial reduction in the cost of integrating a future EV into your energy supply, and the ability to leverage the car as a source of income over its lifecycle.”
The new V2G will launch in the UK initially, followed by other markets in Europe and then in other markets, including Australia. But it could be a few years before it gets here.
Nissan says that the AC bi-directional charger will lower the cost of entry, and give customers complete control and flexibility over their energy via a dedicated App.
The technology emerged from a trial partly funded by the UK Government’s Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC), a body established to support and accelerate the automotive industry’s transition towards net zero, and was conducted at the University of Nottingham.
Nissan says it worked with several partners including Dreev and Enovates.
Dreev, a joint venture between EDF and NUVVEF, was responsible for data collection, customer profiling and setting the charging and discharging plan by analysing information from the wall box. Enovates, a Belgian-based mobility technology company, developed the wall box, or Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), including set-up and test certification.
The wall box acts as the system hub, sending and receiving information on energy demand and supply from the Dreev cloud, and directing the car to charge or discharge electricity at a set amount to the home or grid.
“This test marks an important step in creating a sustainable, interconnected energy future where electric vehicles play a central role in sustainable mobility solutions and resolving energy grid congestions,” said Bart Vereecke, the CEO of Enovates.
Nissan has obtained grid certification in the UK, and is now looking to obtain the same in other markets.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded the Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid web sites. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review, and owns a Tesla Model 3.