Nissan and 4R Energy partner with Green Charge Networks for commercial energy storage featuring second-life EV batteries
15 June 2015
Nissan Motor Company and Green Charge Networks, a provider of commercial energy storage, are partnering to deploy second-life Li-ion vehicle batteries for stationary commercial energy storage in the US and international markets. General availability is targeted for Q4 2015.
With more than 178,000 sales since its launch in late 2010, Nissan LEAF is the world’s top-selling electric vehicle. As part of the company’s commitment to sustainability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Nissan has conducted multiple research projects in Japan, the US and Europe to use the 24 kWh LEAF battery packs outside the vehicle through 4R Energy, a joint-venture with Sumitomo Corp. formed in 2010. (Earlier post.)
(Nissan and Sumitomo designated the second-life use of lithium-ion batteries as the “4R business” (Reuse, Refabricate, Resell, Recycle), with the aim to enhance sustainability through the increase of renewable energy usage, as well as improving the overall value chain for mass-market.)
In a new stationary storage application powered by Green Charge’s intelligent software and Power Efficiency Agreement, the second-life energy storage unit has a cost advantage over traditional units, opening up new markets where incentive programs are currently not offered.
Engineering teams from both companies have worked together for more than a year to ensure safety, reliability and performance of this offering for commercial customers.
The first combined storage unit will be installed at a Nissan facility this summer, where multiple Nissan LEAF batteries will be configured to offset peak electricity demand, creating savings while also benefiting the utility grid. Systems such as this also can be paired with renewable energy sources such as wind or solar to further reduce a facility’s environmental footprint and enhance energy savings.
this is the way sustainability is supposed to work. 3 thumbs up
Posted by: Jeffgreen54 | 15 June 2015 at 01:45 PM
if you look at the mileage of some used Nissan leafs you will see very low mileage. Those batteries must have 80% of their capacity left at scrapping time (and hence 80% of their value ?)
24 KwH would be too much for most houses, but could work well in apartment blocks or factories, or at sub-stations.
The only worry would be that battery prices decline greatly over the 10 year life of a Leaf battery, reducing the ultimate scrappage value.
But this would be a great problem to have.
Posted by: mahonj | 16 June 2015 at 02:18 PM