LEAF gives as good as it gets
We just learned that a variant of Nissan’s 200 volt quick charge system can not only fill the LEAF with electricity, but if needed, take that electricity back out of the car and feed it to the house.
Now we have a better understanding of why Nissan developed this system in the first place. To use it in precisely this application. Most quick charge systems are based on 400 volt devices that use three phase electricity that the typical household will not have available. When we first read of Nissan’s quick charger, we noted that it used a 200 volt single-phase configuration. And if we remember correctly, the system was reasonably inexpensive compared to the 400 volt alternatives available from other providers. Now we know that Nissan was thinking ahead to the (well-to-do) home user, that may want to have an in-home quick charge system, that could also be run backwards to power the house from the LEAF, if needed. Pretty cool.
Check out our image below of the Nissan charger, which we discovered back in June of last year.
Looks a whole lot like the device in the picture above, doesn’t it? Kudos to Nissan for thinking about the various ways that an electric vehicle might be useful, besides just carting the kids to school.