Nissan South Africa (SA) has entered into a three-year research project with Eskom that will see the electricity utility test the use patterns and requirements of the Leaf electric vehicle (EV), as well as its impact on the national power grid.

The project comes ahead of Nissan SA’s rollout of the Leaf to the local market later this year, when it will become South Africa’s first commercially available all-electric vehicle.

The partnership with Eskom also follows pilot programmes with the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Technology Innovation Agency to create public awareness and, ultimately, commercially viable infrastructure for the use of EVs in South Africa.

The announcement of the Nissan/Eskom collaboration was made by Nissan SA sales, marketing and aftersales director Johan Kleynhans at a vehicle handover ceremony in Johannesburg.

“I’m delighted to be handing over ten Nissan Leafs for this research project, the outcome of which will have long-term implications for the development of the entire EV industry,” said Kleynhans.

“Eskom has been doing research for several years with the intention of understanding the impact of EVs on our grid,” added Eskom research, testing and development GM Barry MacColl.

The research goals Eskom hopes to achieve over the next three years include understanding the energy required to charge EVs; identifying customer use patterns, such as when these vehicles are charged; examining whether EVs have a future in the fleet requirements of Eskom; and researching customer perceptions, infrastructure requirements and the carbon-value chain around EVs.

EVs are either charged slowly (8 to 12 hours) or fast (less than 30 minutes), and each of these modes has implications for an electricity provider.

At the moment, there are no special tariffs or charging facilities available for EVs in South Africa. It is important for Eskom to evaluate and determine the tariffs that would be recommended for EV charging and how a charging network could be rolled out in South Africa.

Eskom will also explore the possibility of discharging energy from the vehicles’ batteries into the grid. Future financial compensation for EV owners who discharge into the grid will be considered as part of the study.

“We support the principle of EVs, in line with Eskom’s aim of finding and enabling technology solutions for a cleaner future,” noted Eskom group executive for sustainability Dr Steve Lennon at the hand- over function.
In order to facilitate the research programme, charging stations have been installed at Eskom’s head office, in Sunninghill, and at the utility’s research facility in Rosherville, in Germiston.

Several portable charging stations will also be available to enable project participants to charge vehicles at home.
Nissan SA appointed Avis Fleet Services (AFS) to manage and maintain the vehicles on Eskom’s behalf.

AFS CE Clive Else said his company was proud to be associated with the project.

“The involvement of AFS early in the introduction cycle of this exciting vehicle will help establish [us] as a local leader in the practical application of this technology for our customers.”

Kleynhans acknowledged that a full-on launch of EVs, including the Leaf, in the South African market was subject to finalisation of government legislation, but reiterated Nissan’s intent to launch the vehicle for sale before year-end.

“We are collaborating with all concerned in the e-mobility programme by providing our hands-on experience with EVs and the infrastructure required.”

The Nissan Leaf is the world’s first mass-market electric vehicle and has already been introduced in Japan, the US and Europe.

More than 60 000 Leafs have been sold globally to date.