Nissan to Test Smart-Grid Technology in Europe, Readies Wireless EV Charger

Nissan Motor Co. is preparing for European tests of new EV-to-grid technology developed with European utility giant ENEL that will allow owners of electric vehicles to store and use electricity for a variety of uses.

During initial trials, owners of Nissan’s all-electric Leaf hatchback will be given a special two-way charger and energy management system. This will allow them to use electricity stored in an EV’s battery pack for their homes and sell energy back to the grid when it’s not needed for the vehicle.

The carmaker announced the plan this week at the United Nations’ Conference on Climate Change in Paris. Nissan and ENEL also are evaluating the potential for repurposing used EV batteries in stationary power applications.

In addition, Nissan is working on a new wireless EV charging system—dubbed the Fuel Station of the Future—it plans to unveil next March. The company envisions that such inductive charging systems will be commonplace in the future and eventually be built into special EV roadway lanes.

Nissan says it is on track to deliver its 200,000th Leaf worldwide since launching the EV five years ago. The vehicles have surpassed a cumulative 1.2 billion miles driven and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 328,500 tons, the carmaker estimates.