Electric vehicle (EV) owners already enjoy the convenience of charging their cars silently overnight. Now, they can also envision earning money while doing so.
Nissan is making a strategic move by joining ChargeScape, a vehicle-to-grid (V2G) initiative that also counts BMW, Ford, and Honda among its supporters.
ChargeScape’s technology connects electric vehicles with power grids and utility companies through wireless software. By linking to ChargeScape’s platform, EV owners can receive financial rewards for temporarily halting their vehicle’s charging during peak demand periods. Ultimately, ChargeScape plans to allow drivers to sell energy stored in their vehicle’s battery back to the grid.
A 2021 study from the University of Rochester revealed that EV owners could save as much as $150 annually by utilizing V2G technology. However, advancements in this field have taken place over the years. According to V2G company Fermata Energy, a customer using its bi-directional charger managed to save $187.50 in just 15 minutes by drawing power from a Nissan LEAF to sidestep expensive demand fees.
Nissan plans to implement ChargeScape’s technology for its EV drivers across the United States and Canada, highlighting the importance of its past sales of 650,000 Leaf models, which were among the first EVs capable of delivering power back to the grid.
Launched in September, ChargeScape is jointly owned by BMW, Ford, Honda, and now Nissan, with expectations for other automakers to join this initiative soon.
In August, General Motors announced that V2G technology will be standard in all of its models slated for the 2026 model year.
This initiative coincides with a surge in EV sales and the rapid development of infrastructure, presenting challenges for the electric grid. Essentially, more EVs on the roads necessitate increased power supply from utilities.
At the same time, a growing number of EV manufacturers are looking to integrate advanced software that features sophisticated driver assistance and other connected functionalities.
With V2G technology gaining traction, ChargeScape is stepping into a competitive arena that includes players like ChargePoint, Electrify America, Fermata Energy, and BP Pulse, all striving for their share of this promising market.
There is, however, a strong incentive for ChargeScape to enter the field at this moment, as Tesla—currently a dominant force in the U.S. EV market—has yet to embrace V2G technology. Instead, Tesla’s focus has remained on its Powerwall home battery solution, which is designed to store solar energy and offer backup power. Nonetheless, CEO Elon Musk has hinted that Tesla might introduce V2G capabilities for its vehicles in 2025.