Nissan Taking On Tesla Powerwall With Recycling Approach

Mark Stevenson
by Mark Stevenson

Nissan is looking to take on Tesla et al in the stationary energy storage game with their own battery solution. However, unlike the Silicon Valley based electric car manufacturer and ZEV credit printing press, the Japanese automaker is looking to take a much greener approach.

Instead of building fresh batteries for commercial stationary applications, Nissan will instead reuse lithium-ion batteries from the LEAF with partner Green Charge Networks.

The first application “will be installed at a Nissan facility this summer, where multiple Nissan LEAF batteries will be configured to offset peak electricity demand,” said Nissan in a statement released today.

Since the batteries can be offered at a significant savings over newer counterparts from competitors, Nissan hopes customers in regions without incentive programs will see them as a cost-effective option.

“A lithium-ion battery from a Nissan LEAF still holds a great deal of value as energy storage, even after it is removed from the vehicle, so Nissan expects to be able to reuse a majority of LEAF battery packs in non-automotive applications,” said Brad Smith, director of Nissan’s 4R Energy business.

Mark Stevenson
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  • GeorgiaLuxuryAutomotive GeorgiaLuxuryAutomotive on Jun 15, 2015

    The fact that these batteries still have usable power in it after it is removed from the vehicle is very amazing. Like redav mentioned, it would definitely save money from the electric bill. This is something everyone should invest in.

  • SCE to AUX SCE to AUX on Jun 15, 2015

    Nissan still leads the way in ZEV credits, despite popular opinion: http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/10/20141017-zevcred.html My question is this - what happens to the cars? Is this application going to be the cover story for thousands of unsellable Leafs coming off lease? My 12 Leaf goes back in 3 months. Curious, I looked at retail prices for used 12 Leafs. One had been marked down to $8999, with only 18k on it. It sold the next day. But there is a growing number of Leafs like mine listed for $10-14k retail, but there won't be many takers. So I wonder if Nissan will conveniently convert their packs into load levelers, and dispose of the cars? Or will they fit them with new batteries and boost the used car market?

    • See 3 previous
    • Shaker Shaker on Jun 17, 2015

      @SCE to AUX mcs and SCE - thanks for the info :-)

  • Kendahl Kendahl on Jun 15, 2015

    Has Nissan sold enough Leafs for there to be an adequate pool of old batteries to reuse?

    • Mcs Mcs on Jun 15, 2015

      Over 170,000 worldwide so far.

  • 360joules 360joules on Jun 16, 2015

    This is old news and stale. Nissan signed these contracts long ago.

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