Leaf batteries power plant
Nissan Australia has launched a circular-economy project in Victoria with the Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP) to use recycled batteries from Leafs to power part of its production facility.
The project called Nissan Node has seen a solar array installed at the facility in Dandenong as well as new electric-vehicle chargers.
In its most simplified form, Nissan Node includes the battery energy-storage system made of nine repurposed Gen 1 Leaf batteries at the NCAP.
The project is estimated to reduce Nissan Casting Australia’s annual carbon-dioxide emissions by 259 tonnes, while saving 128 megawatts of energy every year.
“This isn’t just a hugely exciting project, but an important step into the future for end-of-life EV batteries,” says Nissan executive Andrew Humberstone.
“As an early pioneer of EVs globally and locally, we can also demonstrate leadership in second-life battery initiatives. I’m proud this solution is every bit as innovative as the launch of not only the Leaf [pictured] but the recently introduced Ariya.”
The Ariya has headlined Nissan’s global EV line-up with NCAP’s high-pressure aluminium castings certified Australian Made and carrying the iconic kangaroo symbol.
Nissan’s NCAP operation has been a mainstay of the industry since being established in 1982. Today, more than 50 per cent of its operation is dedicated to making castings fitted to Nissan’s battery electric and hybrid vehicles sold globally.
Every Leaf sold globally to date has components that were manufactured in Australia as is also the case with the next-generation e-Power powertrain, which is launching locally this year in the new Qashqai.
Humberstone says: “This is another great idea from the NCAP team that creates a sustainable solution for end-of-life EV batteries. Nissan Node demonstrates our way of thinking to ‘challenge for the future’.”
The project was completed in partnership with Melbourne-based Relectrify, which is a developer of battery management and inverter technology that extends the life of batteries, reduces system costs and enables the repurposing of second-life batteries from EVs.
Its ReVolve energy-storage system installed at NCAP is a first-of-its-kind product built from end-of-life Leaf batteries.
“We are delighted to be working with Nissan on this initiative, which positions Australian innovation at the forefront of the global transition towards carbon neutrality and the circular economy,” says Jeff Renaud, Relectrify’s chief executive.
