Nissan Australia is launching a circular economy project in Victoria, with the Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP) to use recycled Leaf batteries to power part of its production facility.
The project, called Nissan Node, will see a new solar array installed at NCAP, as well as new EV chargers for staff to recharge their electric vehicles.
The Nissan Node will include the installation of a new battery energy storage system made of nine repurposed Gen 1 Nissan Leaf batteries at the plant, which will be charged via the solar array.
It is estimated the project will reduce NCAP’s annual C02 emissions by 259 tons, 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 Casting Australia managing director Peter Jones.
“As an early pioneer of the electric vehicle both globally and locally, we can also demonstrate leadership in second-life battery initiatives. I’m proud that this solution is every bit as innovative as the launch of the Leaf in Australia was more than 10 years ago.
“The Nissan LEAF comes with vehicle-to-grid technology from factory, which will allow Australian EV owners to use their vehicle to power their homes, and could be used to help stabilise the electricity grid, but commercial Circular Economy projects like this are a viable, sustainable and innovative solution for end-of-life EV batteries, too.”
Nissan’s NCAP operation has been a mainstay of the industry since its establishment in 1982.
Today more than 50% of NCAP’s operation is dedicated to the manufacturing of high-quality aluminium castings that are fitted to Nissan’s battery electric and hybrid vehicles sold globally, with NCAP recognised as a centre of manufacturing excellence within the global Nissan network.
Every Nissan Leaf sold globally has components fitted that were manufactured here in Australia.
“This is another innovative idea from the Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP) team that creates a sustainable solution for Nissan’s end-of-life electric vehicle batteries,” Jones says.
“This Nissan Node Project demonstrates the Nissan way of thinking to ‘Challenge for the Future’. We are very proud of our NCAP team, which continues to innovate and improve to ensure our advanced manufacturing capability, not only for Nissan but also for Australia,” he says.
Similar projects are already underway around the world, including a trial with the East Japan Railway Company which uses second-life Leaf batteries to power railway crossings.
The Node Project is being completed in partnership with Melbourne-based company, Relectrify. Relectrify develops battery management and inverter technology that extends the life of batteries, reduces battery system costs, and enables the repurposing of second-life batteries.
Relectrify’s ReVolve battery energy storage system being installed at the 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 both carbon neutrality and the Circular Economy,” Relectrify chief executive Val Muenzel says.
