YOKOHAMA: Nissan LEAF owners in Japan will be able to exchange their cars’ old batteries for refabricated ones under a new, fee-based programme.
Starting in May, owners of the 100% electric LEAF can turn in their used batteries and, for a fee, receive refabricated ones. Nissan is using the battery-refabrication capabilities of 4R Energy Corp., a company established through a joint venture with Sumitomo Corp., to offer the programme.
As demand for electric vehicles grows, the number of used batteries will increase significantly. Nissan hopes that by reclaiming these batteries, it can help lower battery replacement costs and heighten the used-car value of electric vehicles. This will enhance the electric-car ownership experience, which in turn will help promote their use, ultimately contributing to lower CO2 emissions.
Nissan will initially offer 24-kilowatt-hour refabricated batteries for 300,000 yen (RM11,000) apiece, with plans to expand the line-up. Exchange costs for brand-new LEAF batteries are 650,000 yen (RM24,000) for 24 kWh; 800,000 yen (RM30,000) for 30 kWh; and 820,000 yen (RM31,000) for 40 kWh.
Nissan is the industry leader in zero-emission vehicles, having sold more than 300,000 LEAF electric cars.
In a related development, Nissan also announced it is working with 4R Energy Corp to install new streetlights in the town of Namie that will be powered by a combination of solar panels and used batteries from the LEAF.
The project, titled “The Reborn Light,” aims to provide public lighting for Namie’s residents as part of the town’s recovery efforts following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. The project uses the growing number of used electric-car batteries that will become available as electric vehicles increase in popularity around the world.
Nissan and 4R have created a new type of outdoor lighting that operates completely off the main power grid, requiring no electric cables or outlets. A prototype was tested on Monday at the 4R battery reclamation factory in Namie, with full-scale installation starting in FY 2018.
Keyword: Nissan LEAF owners can buy recycled batteries for RM11K apiece