Nissan and EDF partner to launch V2G EV charging offer for businesses

EDF is the long-term supplier of the car manufacturer. Image: Nissan

The agreement, which applies to the two firms’ operations in the UK, France, Belgium and Italy, will see Nissan sell V2G-compatible EVs to businesses, while EDF Group will provide the supporting chargers and services.

The idea is to reduce the total cost of EV ownership for businesses by allowing them to charge their EV fleet when electricity prices and grid demand are low, and to discharge electricity back to the grid in exchange for payment when demand and prices rise.

Vehicles offered to businesses through the package will be Nissan’s Leaf and e-NC200 van, while EDF Group’s infrastructure and services will be provided by its subsidiaries Izivia and Dreev respectively.

The move from Nissan and EDF Group comes after the two firms signed their first collaborative agreement, around energy storage and renewable energy generation solutions in the EV space, last year.

Nissan Energy’s managing director for Europe, Francisco Carranza, said that the addition of V2G to the company’s work with EDF Group was a “logical next step”, given that businesses are increasingly electrifying their fleets and exploring flexibility.

“This new partnership with EDF across four major European markets is another sign that our vision of an electric ecosystem is becoming a reality,” Carranza said.

“We are convinced that the development of electric mobility will be supported by partnerships… so EDF is building an ecosystem of innovative players by forming strategic partnerships for the large-scale roll-out of the best technologies to support our customers,” EDF Group’s electric mobility director Yannick Duport added.

Looking to the future, Nissan and EDF Group are hoping to extend their new V2G offering to individual motorists across Europe, should the business package prove a success.

Flexible future

V2G is still an emerging area in the smart, flexible energy space, but the technology is rapidly gaining traction among businesses and policymakers.

The UK Government has announced it will invest £20m to support V2G projects, while V2G offerings are now being offered by companies such as OVO Energy.

UK-based V2G uptake seems to be particularly pronounced among local authorities. Earlier this year, Plymouth City Council fitted its existing fleet of Nissan Leafs with bi-directional chargers as part of a joint research project with Cisco, Cenex, Nuve, Imperial, Transport for London and the Greater London Authority.  

Similarly, Nottingham City Council has installed V2G chargers at its Eastcroft waste transfer depot as part of CleanMobilEnergy – a project backed by € 4.29m of EU funding which will utilise various clean energy systems and V2G technologies to support regional EV rollouts.

Sarah George