Nissan has approved a "bidirectional charger" developed by US-based tech firm Fermata Energy that can send power back to the grid.
It means the technology will be available for Nissan Leaf drivers in the US, initially commercial and government fleet owners. The Fermata Energy FE-15 charger can send energy stored in the vehicle's battery back to a nearby building or the grid during times of peak demand.
The firm, which is based in Virginia, said the Leaf is the only fully electric passenger vehicle in the US market to be able to supply energy to the grid. The firm said the technology could help motorists save money on electricity bills, as well as reduce the total cost of ownership of their vehicle.
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David Slutzky, CEO and founder of Fermata Energy, said: "We applaud Nissan for their ongoing leadership in delivering new, meaningful technologies to EV owners. V2X bidirectional charging is an important innovation that enables Nissan LEAF owners to create additional value from the energy stored in the vehicle’s battery.
"That value helps reduce the total cost of ownership of their car, while supporting grid resilience. At Fermata Energy, we were the first to receive the UL 9741 certification in the world and now the first to have Nissan’s approval on a bidirectional charger in the US."
Working alongside the charging station, Fermata's 'energy demand charge management application' will continuously monitor a building's electrical demand, looking for opportunities to periodically draw on the vehicle's energy during more expensive, high-demand times. Fermata said that in States with utility demand response programmes, the chargers are able to safely send energy store in the battery to the grid during peak energy demand times.
The technology is already installed at multiple sites across the US. Fermata says that in Colorado, as part of a vehicle-to-built programme, its platform has lowered electricity bills at the Boulder North Recreation Center - saving the city on average $270 per month or roughly the same cost as leasing a Leaf in some markets.
Bidirectional charging has also been touted as the future of private electric vehicle ownership with start-ups and manufacturers competing to bring the technology to market. In the UK, OVO energy ran a vehicle-to-grid trial in collaboration with Nissan and others which found drivers that left their cars plugged in when not in use could save hundreds of pounds on electricity each year.
Fermata's technology is compatible with Nissan Leafs made from 2013 onwards.
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