Electric vehicles to form part of the infrastructure

“One hundred EVs with zero emissions and intelligent energy integration capabilities could power an entire building. We can now also recycle our batteries and give them a second lease on life as energy stores for electric vehicles, homes, offices, businesses and even remote villages with a smart grid. This is already taking place here, in South Africa, where ‘second-life’ Leaf batteries, together with solar panels, are being used to generate sustainable power for learners at Filadelfia Secondary School, in Soshanguve,” Kabelo Rabotho, Marketing Director, Nissan South Africa.

The technology will allow EVs to not only draw energy from the electrical grid but also feed into the grid if it is needed. Nissan’s newly introduced e-Power is an electric motor driven vehicle although still feature an internal engine which recharges the vehicle battery. This capability could lead to cities becoming greener as, with the correct integration, EVs could act as batteries connected to the electricity grid and feed power into such grid. “As Nissan, we too can operate the ‘off the grid’ to focuses mainly on developing smart charging solutions (vehicle to grid or V2G) by bringing together technologies developed and mastered by both companies. Smart charging refers to technologies that optimize the charging or discharging of an electric vehicle in an efficient cost-effective manner,” Rabotho added.

To accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles, Nissan has taken responsibility for sales of V2G compatible electric vehicles as part of the cooperation agreement. Another key developing factor is the need to begin to increase autonomous drive-ready conditions, although, Nissan SA will need both financial and non-financial incentives from the government to do so. European countries have been focusing on electric vehicle purchase incentives and sales tax incentives and have resulted in nearly 60 per cent of all new cars purchased in Norway in March 2019, being electric vehicles. Locally, smart charging solutions and V2G technologies will allow for vehicle owners to sell back electric energy to the grid which in turn could offset the cost of ownership.

“Today, key government partners, as well as the other automotive manufacturers, are looking to mark a huge step towards realising this electric future, creating a practical solution that benefits businesses and wider society alike,” Rabotho concluded.