Nissan Node takes EV batteries full circle

NISSAN Australia is set to launch an industry-first circular economy project at its Nissan Casting Australia Plant (NCAP) that will see recycled Leaf EV batteries used to part-power its production facility.

The Japanese importer says the project – dubbed Nissan Node – is an important step in helping it achieve carbon neutrality and will include the installation of a new solar array, EV chargers and a battery energy storage system made from nine repurposed, first-generation Leaf battery packs.

Nissan said the Node project will provide renewable energy to power part of the production of components for its global EV models, as well as helping to supply the newly installed EV chargers that will recharge staff vehicles.

The project is estimated to reduce NCAP’s annual CO2 emissions by a whopping 259 tons, while simultaneously saving 128 megawatts of energy each year.

“This isn’t just a hugely exciting project, but an important step into the future for end-of-life EV batteries,” said NCAP 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.

“Already 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.”

The NCAP facility in Dandenong South, Victoria, was established in 1982. Today, the facility manufactures high-quality aluminium castings as fitted to Nissan BEV and hybrid vehicles sold globally. Nissan says the facility is recognised as a centre of manufacturing excellence within the company’s global network.

“This is another great, innovative idea from the Nissan Casting Australia Plant team that creates a sustainable solution for Nissan’s end-of-life electric vehicle batteries,” said Mr Jones.

“This Nissan Node project perfectly 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.

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, and with the 4R Energy Corp in Japan, which is developing the technology and infrastructure to recycle, resell and reuse the batteries in Nissan EVs as a power storage solution.

The Nissan Node project is being completed in partnership with Melbourne-based company, Relectrify.

Relectrify is a developer of battery management and inverter technology that “dramatically extends the life of batteries, reduces battery system costs, and enable the repurposing of high-quality, second-life batteries from electric vehicles”, Nissan said in a statement.

The company’s ReVolve Battery Energy Storage System is being installed at NCAP and is a first-of-its-kind product to be 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,” said Relectrify CEO Val Muenzel.

The project is expected to be completed this year.