Nissan Motor Co. will launch the “LEAF to Home” power supply system, which can supply electricity from batteries onboard in Nissan LEAF electric vehicles to homes when used with the “EV Power Station” unit developed by Nichicon Corporation.
“LEAF to Home” is an industry first backup power supply system that can transmit the electricity stored in the large-capacity batteries of Nissan LEAFs to a residential home.
Nissan will showcase this system at its Japanese dealership showrooms beginning in June to help promote efficient electricity management and demonstrate the features built into electric vehicles.
Nichicon, an innovator in power supply systems, will provide the technology to move the electricity from vehicle to home through its EV Power Station units.
This power transfer system enables electricity stored in high-capacity lithium-ion batteries onboard a Nissan LEAF to be sent to an ordinary home by connecting the car to the home’s electricity distribution panel with a connector linked to the LEAF’s quick charging port.
The EV Power Station system is similar in size to an external air-conditioning unit, can be installed outdoors, and conforms to the CHAdeMO protocol for EV quick chargers. CHAdeMO is an abbreviation of “Charge de Move” (“charge for moving”) and is the trade name for a quick-charging method used to charge the batteries of electric vehicles. The Nichicon system’s connector complies with the JEVS G 105 standard defined by the Japan Automotive Research Institute (JARI). This system can run on various operating modes and has a timer function which can be controlled with a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch panel. Electricity is stored or supplied automatically in accordance with a household’s electricity capacity and consumption.
The EV Power Station can fully charge a LEAF in as little as four hours, which is approximately half the time required when a normal charger is used. All current Nissan LEAF owners in Japan will be able to use the system, depending on their home’s installation requirements.
With Japanese government subsidies taken into account, the EV Power Station is estimated to cost 330,000 yen ($3,775 or about 3,000 Euro) with the consumption tax and installation charge. The company plans to sell 10,000 units in the first fiscal year.
This system helps to balance the electrical supply system, and can even lower a consumer’s electricity bill. The LEAF to Home system will help encourage Nissan LEAF owners to charge their cars with electricity generated during the night, when demand is low, or sourced from solar panels. This assist in balancing energy needs by supplying electricity to the grid during daytime, when demand is highest. It can also be used as back-up power source in case of power outages and/or shortages.
The lithium-ion batteries can store up to 24kWh of electricity, which is sufficient to supply an average Japanese household for about two days. This system underscores an additional attribute of EVs: vehicles which can be used as a storage battery whether they are moving or stationary.
Nissan and Nichicon will continue to work together to create new value in EVs as part of the way forward toward the realization of a zero-emission society.
The EV Power Station : Specifications
| <When charging Nissan LEAFs> | |
| Input voltage: | Single-phase, AC 200V (±15%), 50 Hz/60 Hz (±5%) |
| Input current range: | AC 0-36A |
| Output voltage range: | DC 50-500V (CHAdeMO Protocol) |
| Peak power output: | 6kW |
| Conversion efficiency: | 90% or more (at rated output) |
| Power factor: | 99% or more (at rated output) |
| <When supplying power to households> | |
| Input voltage range: | DC 150V-450V |
| Input current range: | DC 0-30A (Limited by cable specifications) |
| Output voltage: | Single-phase three-wire system (AC 100V x two-phase) AC100V (±6%), 50Hz / 60Hz AC 200V (±6%), 50Hz / 60Hz (Max.±2%) |
| Output current range: | AC 0 – 30A |
| Peak power output: | 6kW (Single-phased, AC 100V·3kW x two-phase) |
| Conversion efficiency: | 90% or more (at rated output) |
| External dimensions: | 650 mm (W) x 350 mm (D) x 781 mm (H) (excluding projecting parts) |
| Mass: | Approx. 60 kg |
