Nissan eyes affordable bi-directional charging in EU by 2026

Nissan has announced plans to launch affordable vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology on select electric vehicles in Europe starting in 2026.

Developed in collaboration with Belgian technology firm Enovates, the carmaker promises a price not higher than current charging systems. The rollout will commence in the United Kingdom, followed by other European markets at a later stage.

Nissan has researched vehicle-to-grid technology for over ten years. It enables EV owners to use their car batteries to power their homes or sell electricity back to the grid, offering both financial and environmental benefits. It can also serve as a buffer to stock electricity from renewables when these are readily available.

At half the cost

Some carmakers, like Volkswagen and Nissan, already offer the technology on dedicated models in their electric range, but implementation is restricted to pilot projects.

According to some studies, V2G can slash the cost to power an EV in half, but a major threshold for current adoption is the high upfront price, as the necessary bidirectional wall box often costs three times the regular one.

Nissan’s bi-directional charging solution will debut at a price comparable to current mono-directional chargers, underscoring the company’s commitment to affordability.

The cost reduction comes from a game-changing approach that offers a system capable of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC).

Another critical aspect of the technology is its integration within the EV’s onboard systems. This eliminates the need for the expensive external wall box and makes the solution accessible to a wider audience—though a wall box is still necessary. The system will be integrated with a dedicated app, giving users full control over charging schedules and energy reserves.

With a wall box from Belgium

The development of an AC-compatible wall box central to the system was conducted by the Belgian tech company Enovates, which had already innovated with a V2G Chademo solution back in 2018.

“Enovates has always been committed to pushing the boundaries of V2G technology, and we are thrilled to bring our expertise in AC charging to this project,” added Stijn Vispoel, R&D Manager.

“Our certified AC V2G chargers represent the next generation of energy technology.” The newest equipment facilitates seamless energy transfer and acts as the hub for managing energy flows between the grid, the car, and the home.

“This technology transforms vehicles into mobile energy storage units, helping users save money, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and move closer to a carbon-neutral future,” said Hugues Desmarchelier, Vice President of Global Electrification Ecosystem and EV Programs at Nissan.

The UK will be the launchpad for the technology, leveraging lessons learned from a successful year-long pilot project at the University of Nottingham. The upcoming Nissan Leaf crossover, produced in Sunderland, UK, is expected to be one of the first models equipped with the V2G system.