Nissan teams with CSIRO for solar-powered EV charging

Nissan Australia is taking part in a new trial of solar-powered EV stations designed to improve the carbon footprint of electric vehicles and take demand away from the energy grid.

The Japanese car-maker’s Aussie subsidiary has announced a new partnership with the CSIRO and Delta Electronics which grants the public free access to solar-powered recharging over the space of 200 days.

The trial has received $210,000 from the Victorian government and involves three EV stations at Nissan’s Melbourne head office powered by roof-mounted solar panels that power a built-in 6kWh battery pack or can send energy directly to an electric vehicle.

Depending on weather conditions, the stations draw power from the sun to recharge up to four vehicles at once, or can revert to traditional energy from the grid where necessary. The Nissan Leaf’s 40kWh battery can be fully charged in as fast as six hours.

The charging units have been produced by Delta Electronics, and will soon be made available to households and businesses in Australia.

Prices are yet to be confirmed but company representative estimate a cost between $3000 and $5000 excluding the solar panels.

“We know we need to reduce emissions in the transport sector and one of the best ways we can do that is to support partnerships like this one,” said Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio.

“This battery smart storage platform means electric vehicle drivers can travel more confidently and enjoy the drive.”

Nissan representatives say the solar-powered recharging station is intended to cover shorter trips.

Two of the solar-powered charging stations – which are also plugged into the traditional coal-powered electricity grid as a back-up – are available for the public to use free of charge.

At the end of the 200-day trial, the three solar-powered recharging stations will be removed and the charging data  will be analysed by the CSIRO and Delta Electronics.

“Nissan is committed to helping innovate the way all its customers access EV (electric vehicle) charging, while a study of this nature will enable greater EV adoption both here and around the world, reducing the impact on the grid,” said Nissan Australia boss Stephen Lester.