Nissan To Launch LEAF Battery To Power Homes As Well
Great news, e-vehicle enthusiasts – Nissan has officially approved a bi-directional battery for installation in the upcoming LEAF bound for the United States, which means you will be able to use it to power your home as well!
This will be music to South African ears amid concerns about ongoing load shedding, which is why we feel the need to mention straight off the bat that the Nissan Leaf is currently discontinued in South Africa, but that the automaker has promised to bring future models back to our shores.
What is the FE-15 Charger?
The FE-15 charger is one of the flagship products of Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-grid services provider known for their turnkey V2X systems that empower electric vehicle (EV) owners to earn money and protect the environment while contributing to a more resilient and renewable energy based power grid.
Their vehicle-to-grid solutions leverages clean technology that enables energy to be pushed back to the power grid from the battery of an EV. It also extends to vehicle-to-grid energy transfer that can support the electrical loads of consumer homes or commercial buildings. The latter makes it a fantastic solution for companies with large fleets, which could ultimately be used to power company buildings as well.
The FE-15 charger is backed up by Fermata Energy’s proprietary Demand Charge Management application, which monitors the electrical load of a building so it knows when to draw on an e-vehicle’s energy to boost the grid during high-demand (or no-supply) periods.
What Took Nissan So Long?
Fair question! Nissan has been a little late to the vehicle-to-grid party, but this is largely due to its extensive due diligence process. The FE-15 charger had to be fully verified as being compatible with the Nissan LEAF, passing key requirements from Nissan. The company was also awaiting their UL 9741 certification for bi-directional charging systems. This means that the use of the bidirectional charger will not impact the LEAF’s battery warranty – a major plus for Nissan owners.
Short of the long? When Nissan introduces new models and the FE-15 charger in South Africa, this set-up could provide a viable load-shedding backup in addition to a carbon-free mode of transport.
How exciting! Keep an eye on the blog in the coming weeks and months for more info on the inspiring developments in the Nissan camp. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to a Group1 Nissan representative at our branches in Kuils River, Stellenbosch, Johannesburg and Uitenhage to learn more about the new and used models we currently have on our showroom floors.
