Nissan launches intelligent charging and V2G research project
The UK Government-funded “Smart Use of Integrated Technology for EVs” (SUITE) project is due to take place over approximately three years. Led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, UK, the £10 million project forms part of the ‘Drive35’ funding programme, through which the UK aims to support the roll-out of zero-emission mobility and related technologies.
The project’s goal is to reduce the energy consumption of EVs, better integrate renewable energy into the charging process, and ease pressure on the power grid. To achieve this, Nissan is collaborating with ten industry and academic partners to combine various technologies into a single vehicle concept. At its core are a gallium nitride (GaN)-based traction inverter with AI-powered control, integrated tandem solar cells, and an intelligent charging management system. This system is designed to optimise energy flows, reduce electricity costs, and feed excess renewable energy back into the grid. The concept is further enhanced by a bidirectional charging unit, which will be used to test vehicle-to-grid functionalities in real-world conditions.
The new all-electric Nissan Leaf will serve as the test platform. The EV will be used to trial the technologies as an integrated system and validate their interaction in real-world conditions. As well as Nissan, the project consortium includes partners such as RAM Innovations, Weeteq, Oxford PV, and Ricardo, as well as several British universities – including the University of Bristol, Newcastle University, the University of Nottingham, the University of Oxford, and University College London. The partners are working on power electronics, solar technologies, artificial intelligence, and the integration of vehicle-to-grid applications.
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