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Smart Grid (2): Nissan/Mitsubishi developing dischargeable EVs

Plan to use batteries recycled from EVs as stationary storage devices in homes and elsewhere

2011/05/12

Summary

 Having an electric storage capacity in workplaces and homes is an important step in building a smart grid. This is why a number of attempts are being made such as building homes with storage capacity and draining electricity from batteries on EVs and PHEVs and using them as storage batteries for home use (referred to as "dischargeable EVs" or "V2H (Vehicle to Home)" in this report.

 The previous report "Smart Grid (1)" of April 14 reported plans by Toyota Group's homebuilding companies to provide homes with electric storage capacities and the demonstration experiments being conducted in the city of Toyota since 2010 focusing on the verification of "V2H" by Toyota to use the storage batteries in EVs and PHEVs as the electric suppliers.

 This report, Smart Grid (2), contains reports on the "dischargeable EVs" being pursued by Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, and their plans to construct related systems.

 It is known that the lithium-ion batteries, after being removed from EVs, can be reused as stationary storage batteries in homes and elsewhere with the likely result of lowering the initial battery cost affecting the EV sales. This possibility is being studied by Nissan and Sumitomo Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors, Itochu Corporation and other companies.

 Also reported here are special efforts being made to build systems that include charging systems and car sharing systems that will encourage market penetration of EVs and PHEVs.

 Honda began a demonstration program in December 2010 in Japan and the US with the Fit EV and the Inspire-based PHEV.

Plans to install storage capacities in homes (including secondary use of batteries for EVs)

Homes with
storage capacities		 Toyota group  Toyota Home, one of the Toyota group companies, will have homes having storage capacities and HEMS (Home Energy Management System) ready for commercial application in 2011. Misawa Home (27.8% controlled by Toyota Home) has similar plans.
Homebuilders  Other homebuilders also have plans to introduce homes with storage capacities expecting the popular use of EVs and PHEVs.
Discharging
electricity from
EV batteries
for home use
(dischargeable EVs)		 Toyota  Verifying V2H technologies in the demonstration experiment started in the city of Toyota in 2010
Nissan  Developing dischargeable EVs in the demonstration experiment started in the city of Yokohama in 2010
 Developing efficient charging and discharging technologies of the EV batteries conducted jointly with GE since April 2010
Mitsubishi
Motors		  Developing V2H-ready EV technologies in the Keihanna Project that started in Kyoto Prefecture in 2010
 Demonstration experiments started in December 2010 using EV batteries and reused batteries. Developing a system for using batteries as a power source without placing a burden on the vehicle.
Sharp  Developing a conditioner for using EV batteries as storage batteries for home use
Secondary
use of EV
lithium-ion batteries		 Nissan  Demonstrating reuse of EV batteries in demonstration experiments that started in the city of Kitakyushu in 2010
 A new company was established in September 2010 jointly with Sumitomo Corporation to study the feasibility of secondary use of EV batteries as a business.
Mitsubishi
Motors		  Demonstration experiments started in January 2011 in the city of Kyoto regarding the secondary use of EV batteries
Itochu  Demonstration experiments started in May 2010 jointly with the city of Tsukuba aimed at building a business model of the secondary use of EV batteries
 Plans started in November 2010 in partnership with a local electric power company in the state of Indiana of the US regarding the demonstration of secondary use in stationary application of batteries recycled from EVs
(Notes) 1. Certain partnerships in joint activities are omitted from the above chart.
2. See MarkLines report "Smart Grid (1)" of April 14 about plans being pursued by Toyota and homebuilding companies.
3. "Dischargeable EV", "chargeable and dischargeable EV" and "V2H (Vehicle to Home)" are used to describe the EV driving batteries, or the EVs themselves, that are capable of storing and discharging electricity as needed.
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