Nissan will launch the LEAF to Home power supply system, which can supply electricity from batteries onboard in Nissan LEAF electric vehicles (EV) to homes when used with the EV Power Station unit developed by Nichicon Corporation. LEAF to Home is an industry first backup power supply system that can transmit the electricity stored in the large-capacity batteries of Nissan LEAFs to a residential home. Nichicon, an innovator in power supply systems, will provide the technology to move the electricity from vehicle to home through its EV Power Station units.


This power transfer system enables electricity stored in high-capacity lithium-ion batteries onboard a Nissan LEAF to be sent to an ordinary home by connecting the car to the home’s electricity distribution panel with a connector linked to the LEAF’s quick charging port. The EV Power Station system is similar in size to an external air-conditioning unit, can be installed outdoors. The Nichicon system’s connector complies with the JEVS G 105 standard defined by the Japan Automotive Research Institute (JARI).

The Nichicon system can run on various operating modes and has a timer function which can be controlled with a liquid crystal display (LCD) touch panel. Electricity is stored or supplied automatically in accordance with a household’s electricity capacity and consumption. The EV Power Station can fully charge a LEAF in as little as four hours, which is approximately half the time required when a normal charger is used.

All current Nissan LEAF owners in Japan will be able to use the system, depending on their home’s installation requirements. With Japanese government subsidies taken into account, the EV Power Station is estimated to cost 330,000 yen ($4153) inclusive of taxes and installation charges. The lithium-ion batteries can store up to 24kWh of electricity, which is sufficient to supply an average Japanese household for about two days. This system underscores an additional attribute of EVs: vehicles which can be used as a storage battery whether they are moving or stationary.

Nissan will showcase this system at its Japanese dealership showrooms beginning in June to help promote efficient electricity management and demonstrate the features built into electric vehicles.