Nissan OKs First Bi-Directional Charger for LEAF

A two-way fleet, so to speak…

Nissan said today that working with Fermata Energy* it approved the first bi-directional charger for use with the LEAF in the US. With Nissan’s approval and its UL 9741 certification for bi-directional charging systems, the Fermata Energy FE-15 charger is now verified to be compatible with the Nissan LEAF.

Usage of the approved charger will not impact the LEAF’s battery warranty. Moreover, in theory,  it allows some business owners to use a Nissan LEAF to help reduce energy costs. Bi-directional charging technology means that it is possible to charge the LEAF and also send energy stored in the vehicle battery back to the building or the grid. This could save money with their local electric utility, as well as cut the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.

Claimed to be ideal for companies with fleet vehicles, the Fermata Energy Demand Charge Management application, along with the FE-15 charger, continuously monitors a building’s electrical loads, and may draw on the Nissan LEAF’s energy to provide power to the building during more expensive high-demand periods. In states with utility demand response programs, bi-directional-enabled Nissan LEAF vehicles (MY2013 and later) are able to send energy stored in the battery to the grid during peak energy demand times, such as in summer months. (AutoInformed on: PG&E and GM to Test EVs as Power Source when Grid Fails; Group Renault Starts Piloting Vehicle-to-Grid Charging)

**Fermata Energy is a vehicle-to-grid services provider. Interested customers can go to www.fermataenergy.com/fe15-sales for details on the Fermata Energy FE-15 charger today. A Fermata Energy spokesperson told AutoInformed, “Our V2X bidirectional charging platform is comparable in price to commercial, single-directional chargers.”