Nissan Leaf trials with V2G technology in Australia
Nissan’s vehicle-to-grid technology has arrived in Australia. With a government trial, called Realising Electric Vehicle Services (REVS), Nissan is preparing to launch V2G technology to the Australian market later this year.
The REVS project will see 51 Nissan Leaf EVs deployed across the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) ahead of the commercial roll-out planned by Nissan. The ACT government will operate 50 Nissan Leaf electric cars in a trial capacity, using their batteries to stabilise energy supply to the power grid.
The government trial will function as a public showcase of Nissan’s Leaf to deliver bi-directional charging. With this technology, drivers will be able to use their cars to supply energy to homes, for example in blackouts or to power appliances, as well as eventually balancing grids.
Nissan Australia managing director Stephen Lester says “With more people working from home currently, with a Nissan LEAF in the driveway, a household could significantly reduce their power bills by using their vehicle as a battery,” he says. “And if they have solar panels, they can maximise their use of renewable energy, and still have an exciting zero-emissions car to drive.”
The necessary volume of the Wallbox units will be available in Australia by the end of the year. This Wallbox Quasar unit has just gone through certification in Germany, and the UK, and Australia will become the third country to have the wall box made available. JetCharge is importing the Wallbox Quasar and is also playing a role in the REVS trials, focussing on, for example, the ability of multiple electric vehicles to provide grid services such as frequency control.
JetCharge maintains that the wall box will transform the way people perceive vehicles, transport and energy. Chief executive at Jet Charge, Tim Washington, says the bi-directional charger will be capable of 7kW output. Nissan says customers will be able to activate the vehicle-to-grid feature later this year.
Other such trials are being conducted in Europe, for example with Nissan in Germany in a test for piloting grid balancing with intermittent renewables. Moreover, the carmaker has been issued the technology on its home market in Japan for some time already. Just this week the EU Commission underlined the importance of V2G technology in its strategy for energy systems.
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