Nissan Leaf lastly will get official V2G bi-directional charging resolution

Nissan has approved the first bidirectional charging system to be used with its all-electric Leaf car within the US. The FE-15 charger by Fermata Vitality, which may energy houses utilizing the EV’s battery, cost it, and ship saved vitality again to the grid, is the primary system of its type to earn UL 9741 certification for bidirectional charging options.

Again in 2012, Nissan promised its maybe soon-to-be-discontinued EV would eventually share its stored battery power back to your home or the grid throughout peak hours and even in emergencies. This know-how is broadly generally known as Automobile-to-Grid (V2G), Automobile-to-House (V2H), and Automobile-to-Load (V2L), which all can be utilized interchangeably to explain a system that converts EVs to a backup energy station.

Different automakers even have bidirectional charging options as nicely, together with Ford’s Intelligent Backup Power feature obtainable for its all-electric F-150 Lightning truck. There’s additionally the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6 V2L feature that may make them great camping companions. Tesla, then again, is bearish concerning the idea, pushing as a substitute its devoted PowerWall battery backup resolution — the identical one which it scales to the size of virtual power plants.

For Nissan and Fermata, the answer is easy. In a press release, Fermata Vitality CEO David Slutzky stated that the Leaf homeowners can “create further worth from the vitality saved within the car’s battery” and that the charger will help cut back the EV’s complete price of possession by letting the constructing pull vitality from it at peak occasions. Slutzky says it might additionally assist cut back stress on the facility grid, an issue that, while it doesn’t exist right now, may very well be a difficulty sooner or later except utilities and grid operators make the suitable investments.

All mannequin 12 months 2013 and newer Nissan Leafs are permitted to be used with the FE-15 bidirectional charger, and the automaker states that battery warranties won’t be affected. You’ll have to have a quick-charging CHAdeMO port on the Leaf to reap the benefits of bidirectional charging, which typically didn’t come normal. Notably, the 2013 mannequin of the Leaf obtained a extra strong however related capability 24kWh battery than the 2012 mannequin, and though earlier fashions did have an choice for quick charging, Nissan won’t wish to be liable for the batteries’ well being quickly depleting.

These within the FE-15 charger can contact the company through their website. Fermata Vitality isn’t the one product in Nissan’s sight, although — the automaker can be working with one other firm known as Dcbel that’s making a home-specific bidirectional charging resolution.

Picture: Dcbel

It’s superb to see the CHAdeMO charging normal all of the sudden having a final hurrah. The port is slowly disappearing at numerous charging stations as CCS Combo has taken over. A brand new characteristic like that is nice to see and a great story to add to the Leaf’s legacy.