Nissan and EDF Energy accelerate Smart Charging co-operation for Electric Vehicles

Nissan and EDF Group are increasing co-operation on electric mobility in the UK, focusing on smart charging for electric cars and commercial vehicles.

All the electric car news at the moment surrounds the arrival of new electric cars from mainstream manufacturers as they strive to deliver appealing EVs they hope the car buying public will fall in love with.

We’ve got the new VW ID 3 as the new Golf, the Porsche Taycan as an electric four-door 911, electric Crossovers from Hyundai and Kia, Tesla, of course, and many more already revealed or on the way.

But one car maker, Nissan, has been in the electric space for a very long time, and although it could be argued they’ve failed to make the most of the advantage the LEAF’s early arrival and subsequent sales gave them, they too are planning a new EV with a sort of LEAF SUV with more power, more range and a bigger battery.

But being in the electric space for so long means Nissan has had more time to ponder on what’s needed to sustain the hoped for growth in EV sales, and central to that is the need to use EVs to help balance supply and demand for power.

Having already teamed up with EDF Energy in the UK to co-operate on symbiotic technologies, Nissan and EDF Group are now increasing that co-operation not just in the UK but in France, Belgium and Italy too.

The big goal is to work on smart charging solutions (Vehicle to Grid / V2G) which allows electricity stored in vehicles to be sold back to the grid when demand requires it.

That solution, where you car sends power in its battery back to the grid when it’s not needed, probably is of most value for commercial users which are likely to have fleets of vehicles plugged-in and unused at times, allowing V2G technology to use that stored energy to balance grid demand.

Francisco Carranza, Nissan Energy’s MD in Europe, said:

This new partnership with EDF across four major European markets is another sign that our vision of an electric ecosystem is becoming a reality. Businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits and opportunities offered by the Nissan LEAF and e-NV200, and adding a V2G solution is a logical next step for managing their energy supply and opening new revenue opportunities.

Nissan and EDF see V2G as a practical solution to benefit EV owners and power suppliers, and a vital part of a sustainable future for electric vehicles.