Nissan and ENEL trial smart grid scheme

Nissan has teamed up with energy supplier ENEL to trial the idea of ‘Smart Grids’, technology which will allow owners to use their car as a moveable energy hub.

The trial was announced during the NissanRenault Alliance’s support of the COP21 climate change conference in Paris. The leading electrical vehicle (EV) manufacturers have supplied a fleet of 200 EVs to shuttle delegates around the conference.

The Nissan-ENEL partnership will see the smart grid trials begin in Europe, starting in Denmark, with plans to roll out across Germany, the Netherlands and other northern European countries. The concept will see EV owners avoid peak tariffs for household energy, with the car able to supply either the home or national grid with power during high demand periods such as evenings after normal working hours.

The project will also enable Leaf owners a greater degree of financial freedom, while allowing them to either recharge their vehicle at off peak times in the early hours of the morning, or maintain enough charge to be able to drive to their workplace and charge once parked.

Paul Willcox, Nissan Europe chairman, said: "Nissan is the world leader in electric vehicles. We've being doing it longer than anyone else, we've sold more than anyone else and we've got plans for the future that are more credible than anyone else. Our pioneering partnership with ENEL is a perfect example of those plans, taking the car beyond a pure road vehicle, and using it to charge your home or office. It ultimately means that electric vehicles can now become a fully integrated part of our national electricity systems right across Europe.

"A sustainable transportation future demands better connections between vehicles, utilities, renewable energy sources and buildings. This is why today's announcement is so important - it's the first step towards a truly integrated automotive energy eco-system. As the energy and automotive sectors converge, and as we look toward to an ever electric future, the opportunities for enhanced energy management have never been stronger. Vehicle-to-Grid technology represents a step closer to this vision and underscores Nissan’s commitment to the entire EV ecosystem – it goes way beyond driving."

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