Skip to main content

Nissan Leaf will power homes

Nissan Motor Company has unveiled a system which enables electricity to be supplied from the lithium-ion batteries installed in Nissan Leaf to ordinary households, as part of its comprehensive efforts toward the realisation of a zero-emission society. The new system was unveiled at a house built in front of the Nissan global headquarters by Sekisui House Ltd.
April 16, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSS838 Nissan Motor Company has unveiled a system which enables electricity to be supplied from the lithium-ion batteries installed in Nissan Leaf to ordinary households, as part of its comprehensive efforts toward the realisation of a zero-emission society. The new system was unveiled at a house built in front of the Nissan global headquarters by Sekisui House Ltd.

Nissan will continue development and study how it can be fully aligned and connected with current power systems. Working with a wide range of partners interested in both its development and sales, Nissan says it aims to commercialise the system during this fiscal year.

Through this system, electricity stored in Nissan Leaf can be supplied to a house by connecting the car to the house's electricity distribution panel using a connector linked to the Leaf's quick charging port. The connector complies with the CHAdeMO Association's protocol for quick chargers, adopted globally for its great versatility, safety and reliability.

Nissan says that with this system, the Leaf can be used as an electricity storage device for houses in preparation for power outages and/or shortages. The lithium-ion batteries can store up to 24kWh of electricity, sufficient to power an average Japanese household for about two days.

Nissan believes this system will allow households to be supplied with a stable amount of electricity throughout the day and reduce the burden on the current power supply by charging and storing electricity in Nissan Leaf with electricity generated at night or through sustainable methods such as solar power, and using it during high demand periods.

This system can not only supply electricity from the vehicle but also charge it to the vehicle.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Oxford University develops self-driving car
    February 18, 2013
    Oxford University scientists have developed a self-driving car system that can be installed in existing cars and can cope with snow, rain and other weather conditions. Developed by a team led by Professor Paul Newman at Oxford University, the new system has been installed in a Nissan Leaf electric car and tested on private roads around the university. The car will halt for pedestrians, and could take over the tedious parts of driving such as negotiating traffic jams or regular commutes. The car alerts the
  • IBM, Honda, and PG&E enable smarter charging for EVs
    April 17, 2012
    IBM has teamed with American Honda Motor Company and Pacific Gas and Electric Company on a new pilot project that will allow communication between electric vehicles (EVs) and the power grid. This project will demonstrate and test an electric vehicle's ability to receive and respond to charge instructions based on the grid condition and the vehicle's battery state. With visibility into charging patterns, energy providers will have the ability to more effectively manage charging during peak hours and create c
  • Sound synthesis makes hybrid and electric vehicles safer
    January 20, 2012
    The growing popularity of hybrids and electric vehicles gives rise to new safety issues in urban environments, as many of the aural cues associated with engine noise can be missing. The solution is to intelligently make vehicles noisier. The rise in popularity of hybrids and Electric Vehicles (EVs) is a result of environmental pressures, shifts in taxation and emerging technologies for batteries and motors. Competition among the car manufacturers means these vehicles need to be cost effective to buy and ope
  • IBM Research boosts Battery 500 project
    April 23, 2012
    IBM has announced that two industry leaders, Asahi Kasei and Central Glass, will join its Battery 500 Project team and collaborate on far-reaching research with the potential to accelerate the switch from gasoline to electricity as the primary power source for vehicles. In 2009, IBM Research pioneered a sustainable mobility project to develop lithium-air battery technology capable of powering a family-sized electric car for approximately 500 miles (800 km) on a single charge.