Nissan to Power Australian Factory With Old Leaf EV Batteries

Photo: Nissan

As electric vehicles (EVs) continue to increase in popularity, some automakers have noted their batteries as useful energy storage devices beyond the context of a car, like in a new update from Nissan.

Nissan plans to use recycled battery packs from its Leaf EV to help power a battery storage system at its Australian factory, as reported by The Drive on Monday.

The system, which the company dubbed the “Nissan Node,” will repurpose nine battery packs from first-generation Nissan Leaf units to help power the plant. Nissan also plans to install several new EV chargers at the facility, which employees will be able to use to keep their cars charged during workdays.

According to Nissan, the Node project will cut 259 metric tons of CO2 emissions and save as much as 128 megawatts of energy per year.

In July, Nissan announced plans to end the Leaf EV line by 2025, as it announces a new lineup of EVs. The company also revealed plans to stop developing gas engines, becoming the first Japanese automaker to do so.

Nissan and Renault also announced plans for a joint $26 billion investment into EVs, set to help the two companies launch as many as 35 new all-electric models by 2030.