Nissan's Leaf EV Can Power Buildings With Bi-Directional Charging
Nissan is teaming with vehicle-to-grid provider Fermata Energy for the first bi-directional charger for use in the US with its Leaf battery electric vehicle.
Most EVs sit unused all day in a driveway or parking lot, their battery a dormant block of power just waiting to be harnessed. Enter bi-directional charging: a system of storing electricity in a vehicle battery and exporting it to the grid or directly into a home when demand is high.
"The Nissan Leaf is currently the only fully electric passenger vehicle in the US market able to supply energy to the grid," according to a company announcement(Opens in a new window). Add to that a Fermata FE-15 bi-directional charger, and folks can "park their vehicle, plug it in, and save money with their local electric utility, as well as reduce the total cost of ownership of the vehicle."
Aimed at companies with fleet vehicles, Fermata's Energy Demand Charge Management application and FE-15 charger continuously monitor a building's electrical loads, drawing on the Leaf's energy to provide power to the building "during more expensive high-demand periods."
"V2X [vehicle-to-everything] bi-directional charging is an important innovation that enables Nissan Leaf owners to create additional value from the energy stored in the vehicle's battery," David Slutzky, CEO of Fermata Energy, said in a statement(Opens in a new window). "That value helps reduce the total cost of ownership of their car, while supporting grid resilience."
A handful of FE-15 bi-directional chargers are already installed at sites across the US, including Colorado's Boulder North Recreation Center, which saves an average $270 a month with Fermata Energy. Interested customers can sign up online(Opens in a new window) for
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