Nissan Approves First Bi-Directional Charger for Use With LEAF in US

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Automotive giant Nissan, working in collaboration with Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-grid services provider, has approved the first ever bi-directional charger for use with the Nissan LEAF in the U.S.

Bi-directional charging technology means not only charging the Nissan LEAF, but also sending energy stored in the vehicle battery back to the building or the grid. 

Nissan’s approval, along with its UL 9741 certification for bi-directional charging systems, means the Fermata Energy FE-15 charger has passed key requirements imposed by the automaker, and that it has been verified as compatible with the Nissan LEAF.

Most importantly, and in lay terms, it means the use of the Fermata Energy FE-15 charger will not impact the LEAF’s battery warranty.

According to Nissan, its LEAF is currently the only fully electric passenger vehicle in the U.S. market able to supply energy to the grid.

In essence, it says, LEAF owners with the Fermata Energy FE-15 bi-directional charger can park their vehicle, plug it in, and save money with their local electric utility as well as reduce the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.

The automaker is pitching the new technology as being ideal for companies with fleet vehicles, noting that Fermata Energy’s Demand Charge Management application, when coupled with the FE-15 charger, continuously monitors a building’s electrical loads, and may draw on the Nissan LEAF’s energy to provide power to the building during more expensive high-demand periods. 

The company also noted in a press release that in states with utility demand response programs, bi-directional-enabled Nissan LEAF vehicles (MY2013 and later) are able to safely send energy stored in the battery to the grid during peak energy demand times, such as in summer months.

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