Here’s When Nissan Will Launch V2G Charging

• Nissan details plans for launch of vehicle-to-grid charging system in the UK, slated for 2026, before expanding to other European markets.

• The automaker says that EV owners whose vehicles become part of the V2G system, which will be controlled via an app, will be able to reduce the annual cost of charging at home by 50%, according to its simulations.

• V2G charging, which is approaching operational rollouts in a number of countries at the moment, will allow EVs to supply power back to the grid in order to stabilize it during peak demand, and also charge during the most advantageous hours.

Vehicle-to-grid charging, or V2G, envisions that EVs will be able to become part of the electric grid, able to provide energy back when needed in order to help stabilize the grid or power the home. V2G also holds the promise of allowing EV owners to make money by selling energy back to the grid when it's needed most.

But until recently, V2G charging has been a longer-term goal for bidirectional charging capability, which only some EV models possess at the moment.

Now, Nissan plans to launch V2G capability for some of its models in 2026, but only in the UK as a start before expanding to other markets in Europe.

The automaker has already conducted some 40 pilot projects involving V2G charging, including a recent test at the University of Nottingham that lasted a year. Nissan has also recently joined Honda, BMW, and Ford in a joint venture dubbed ChargeScape, which aims to commercialize and expand V2G charging.

"This technology we will bring to customers is a potential game-changer for how we think of EVs," said Hugues Desmarchelier, vice president of Nissan’s global electrification ecosystem and EV programs. "Not just as a means of getting from A to B, but as a mobile energy storage unit that can save people money and support the transition from fossil fuels, bringing us closer to a carbon-free future."

Nissan has also received a G99 Grid code certification, which allows it to provide electricity to the national energy supply of the UK.

One of the first systems Nissan plans to launch in the UK will be an AC-bidirectional system that will use an EV's onboard charger, though DC-based systems are in the works as well. Nissan also plans to offer customers an AC bi-directional charger for about the same price as a mono-directional charger, and EV owners will be able to control charging schedules and settings via an app.

However, Nissan did not detail just when EV owners might actually be able to save or generate readily-felt sums from V2G setups, and how frequently power transfers back to the grid might occur.

After all, transferring power back to the grid is neat, as long as you don't have to drive anywhere for a while.

Clearly, quite a bit of work remains to be done by automakers to convince owners to take part in V2G systems, beyond the argument that it's cool and futuristic. EV owners will also have to be on board with having their EV store and then discharge power back to the grid while also using this EV for daily tasks, thereby putting stress on the battery.

One of the main selling points is expected to be the claim that EV owners will be able to reduce the annual cost of charging an EV at home by 50%, according to Nissan, while also reducing CO2 emissions by 30%. These numbers are based on early studies and simulations, and also make some assumptions about just how long owners' EVs will usually stay plugged in at home.

"EVs equipped with V2G technology can play a crucial role in integrating and increasing the mix of renewables into the energy supply, by storing electricity generated by wind or solar, and directing it back into the grid when needed, reducing dependency on fossil fuels," the automaker added.

It remains to be seen what percentage of Nissan EV owners in the UK will be tempted to sign up for such a system, but it's clear that plenty of coordination will have to take place between various utility providers and automakers to make V2G happen on a large enough scale to benefit the grid in a measurable manner.

Will V2G charging become a mainstream technology by the end of the decade, or will it remain a niche tech primarily used by those with more advanced charging and power storage systems at home? Let us know what you think in the comments below.