Nissan driving solar power

Nissan, which makes the Leaf electric vehicle, is branching into home solar power in the United Kingdom.

The Japanese auto maker is now offering home owners there rooftop solar panels and storage batteries.

OK, so British weather may not be the sunniest, but this is where the builder of the world’s best-selling electric car just started selling Nissan Energy Solar, Wired

reports.

It equips customers with roof-mounted panels and a battery to store some of the electricity generated.

“If they drive a Leaf, or Nissan’s e-NV200 electric van, they can combine the whole process and drive from Scotland to Wales to wherever, guilt-free, fog lights on, windshield wipers whisking away,” Wired says.

Despite the weather, solar works well in the UK where daylight can reach 16 hours and with panels able to absorb even indirect sunlight.

More than 880,000 people there already use solar panels, Nissan says. Adding batteries helps them stay powered up.

“It enables UK homeowners to make significant savings on their household electricity bills, and become champions of sustainability and green technology,” Nissan Europe EV director Gareth Dunsmore says.

He announced the Nissan Energy Solar retail launch to an audience of many of the UK’s most influential automotive industry representatives and stakeholders in London on May 16.

Nissan’s new product includes a home energy management system that allows users to control how and when they want to use their energy.

Its package (six solar panels and home energy management system) starts at NZ$7600 (which includes VAT, similar to GST, at 5%), or nearly NZ$15,000 for panels and a 4kWh battery, including installation. Just storage starts at NZ$12,642 (including 20% VAT).

Customers can choose between a new battery, or a “second-life” pack comprising cells retired from EVs which are good enough for daily storage.

Nissan’s not the only car maker in the solar game.

Tesla has long offered a similar system. It has also combined solar and wind power with batteries in places like Australia to help with electricity demand.