See all Motoring NewsNissan Ireland has just revealed a new technology which enables drivers of electric vehicles to use their cars to power their business and homes to feed energy back to the power grid. The new technology called X-Storage, which was unveiled at Nissan's newly refurbished headquarters on Tuesday, draws energy from the Nissan LEAF which is parked outside and supplies energy stored in the car's battery back to the building.
Nissan is already using this technology at their new Dublin headquarters at Park West Business Park, which was officially opened on Tuesday by the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton. They are also driving the green revolution by expanding their own fleet of electric vehicles on the road to 60%, installing 16 charging points outside their new HQ, fitting LED lighting throughout the building and adding internal bicycle storage facilities to encourage employees to cycle to work.
Speaking at the opening of Nissan’s new headquarters, James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland said that it was incumbent on the entire business community in Ireland and all Government departments to start auditing their carbon footprint and to take the necessary steps to reduce it.
“Businesses and government need to evaluate their environmental credentials including looking at their fleet and company car policies to determine whether they are part of the problem or part of the solution. In addition to the clear environmental benefits from doing so, there can also be significant financial savings for businesses bottom line in the form of Accelerated Capital Allowance benefits, 0% BIK and vehicle running costs savings”, he said.
Mr. McCarthy called on Government to play it’s part by reviewing the national vehicle fleet funded by the Exchequer, most particularly the “grey” mileage fleet, and to make the commitment now to sign up to the Government Fleet Declaration first mooted in 2016 at the Marrakesh Climate Change Conference which recommended 20% of all Exchequer funded fleets should be electric vehicles.
“At Nissan, we are absolutely committed to becoming a more sustainable business and to continuing to reduce our carbon footprint and to helping businesses and householders to follow our lead,” said Mr McCarthy.
“Nissan is changing how cars are integrated into society. Nissan LEAF drivers can now use their zero-emission electric cars for much more than just driving. We have made it possible for them to easily connect their cars with energy systems to charge their batteries, to power their homes and businesses or even feed energy back to power grids and earn energy credits,” he added.
The Nissan Energy X-Storage System - which will be available to buy next year - can be installed in homes and businesses to store energy from the mains electricity supply, especially at night when electricity is cheaper, or from renewal energy sources such as solar panels.
This energy can then be used at a later stage or at peak times to charge electric vehicles and to power homes and businesses. Nissan LEAF owners can also use the Nissan X-Storage System to supply the energy stored in their car’s battery back to power supply grids.
Staff and guests attending the opening on the new headquarters today also celebrated with ice creams from the newly unveiled Nissan zero-emissions ice-cream van.
“We are also changing the way ice-cream is sold! While the presence of a zero-emission ice-cream van may appear frivolous it makes a very serious point about how we can look at the way we traditionally do things and change them for the better. The fumes that idling vans release are highly toxic, they are dangerous to children and don’t make for a great “99” experience. A better future for our children is possible and we have just proved it! Beautiful ice-cream with zero emissions,” said Mr McCarthy.
If you would like to find out more about Nissan's new xStorage Energy Solution CLICK HERE