Japan: Nissan and Hitachi Join Forces to Keep Elevators Running during Blackouts
In a bid to enhance safety and reliability in the event of blackouts, Nissan Motor Co. and Hitachi Building Systems have teamed up to roll out a system that utilizes the batteries of electric vehicles to power elevators.
The innovative solution was put to the test during a pilot project where an elevator with a capacity for nine people was kept running for 10 hours at slow speed using the battery of a fully electric Nissan Sakura car.
The V2X system, which uses the CHAdeMO charging standard supported by Nissan, has the potential to draw power from larger Nissan EVs, such as the Ariya and Leaf models.
This makes it a versatile solution for keeping elevators running during power outages, ensuring the safety and comfort of building occupants.
Tatsunori Takahashi, a director in the domestic business management division of Hitachi Building Systems, expressed hope that the system will be available for apartment buildings from the financial year starting in April.
As the world moves towards renewable energy sources, this collaboration between Nissan and Hitachi is a testament to the versatility of electric vehicles and their potential to serve as a backup power source during blackouts.
In earthquake-prone Japan, this move is a step towards making wider use of EV batteries, ensuring that essential services such as elevators are always operational.
This is a significant development in the field of sustainable energy and highlights the importance of electric vehicles in creating a more resilient and self-sufficient energy grid.
With more and more companies jumping on the bandwagon, it is clear that bi-directional charging, where vehicles can feed energy back into the grid, is the future of sustainable energy.