Japanese car brand Nissan has unveiled a new electric car incentive which will see drivers able to sell power generated from their vehicle back to the grid for money.
The Vehicle to Grid (V2G) technology, which will launch in 2026, will see the car maker offer affordable on-board, bi-directional charging on selected electric vehicles.
The initiative forms part of a key step towards creating a sustainable energy ecosystem as well as offering drivers further incentives to purchase an EV.
The move will allow electric vehicle owners to use electricity stored in their car’s battery to power their homes or sell it back into the grid.
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The incentive aims to encourage more drivers to switch to electric models
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Hugues Desmarchelier, Nissan’s Vice President of global electrification ecosystem and EV programs, said: “The technology we are bringing to customers is a potential game-changer for how we view the car.
“Not just as a means of getting from A to B, but as a mobile energy storage unit, capable of saving people money, supporting the transition of our energy systems away from fossil fuels and bringing us closer to a carbon-free future.
“Nissan is proud to democratise technology for the benefit of society. The breakthrough in an on-board solution for two-way charging will be a substantial reduction in the cost of integrating a future EV into your energy supply, and the ability to leverage the car as a source of income over its lifecycle.”
The project is also part of 40 other pilot projects conducted worldwide throughout the past decade.
The new technology can also see customers cut the annual cost of powering an EV by 50 per cent, something which has previously prevented many drivers from making the switch.
The same technology can also help reduce net CO2 emissions from charging by 30 per cent per year. V2G works by storing electricity generated by wind or solar, and directing it back into the grid when needed, reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Ian Constance, chief executive at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, added: “This is a significant milestone for the collaborative research and development project, led by Nissan Technical Centre Europe and supported by the Department for Business and Trade through the APC.
“Investing in pioneering vehicle-to-grid technology and R&D in the UK is part of a system-level approach to decarbonisation.”
In a similar move, EDF Energy has partnered with Pod Point to offer a new EV charger and tariff bundle which hopes to reduce the upfront costs of going electric.
The deal offers drivers the ability to purchase a Pod Point Solo 3S charger for an initial payment of £499, less than half of its original value at £1,099.
The tariff is priced at £2,139 a year for the average EV driver and gives customers cheap overnight rates for charging five hours of off-peak electricity between 12am and 5am to power both their home and car, priced at 8.49p per kWh.
Rich Hughes, director of retail at EDF, stated: “We’re always looking for ways to make sustainable choices more convenient and affordable, so this bundle is a great option for drivers to be able to make the switch to electric driving, with lower upfront costs.”
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Nissan said the V2G technology can help ‘save people money’
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The V2G UK trial has been partly funded by the UK Government’s Advanced Propulsion Centre UK; a body established to support the move to net zero.
Lilian Greenwood, Future of Roads Minister, said: “Vehicle to Grid technology is a fantastic innovation which has the potential to save people money and accelerate the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.
“A greener transport network is a key priority for this Government, and by working together with industry we will boost consumer confidence and achieve our shared goal of getting more EVs on the road.”
