Nissan to start power trial

Electric car owners in the UK will be able to sell electricity back to the National Grid in a trial launched by Nissan. The automaker says the trial with power company Enel is the first of its kind in Britain. It will involve 100 vehicle-to-grid units for private and business customers, where they can sell back electricity to energy system operator National Grid. Paul Willcox, chief executive of Nissan Europe, says: “The value to the customer is they can draw energy off-peak, so during the night”. He adds that customers could choose to use the energy to power the car, or sell it back to the grid during peak time when they can make some revenue. Private and fleet owners of the Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 electric van will be able to join the trial later this year. The National Grid could face an increase in power demands should electric vehicles become more widespread, but the Nissan program may encourage consumers to reduce their power use during peak times. Steve Holliday, National Grid non-executive director, says: "It's our job to future proof the national transmission network. The rapid uptake of electric vehicles is certainly positive, yet could also be challenging if we don't plan ahead”.