Over in Japan, automakers are looking at turning electric and hybrid vehicles into external power sources for the home, aiming to turn them into a type of rolling battery, the Nikkei reports. The push has been strengthened by such assistance provided by these green cars, which helped supply emergency power in areas during the March earthquake that hit Japan, the report says.
Nissan says that electric vehicles can be used as storage batteries and supplementary power sources, and the company is working to equip its Leaf EV with the ability to feed power into homes. The car can for example be used as an emergency power source during a power outage, utilising the electricity stored in its battery overnight to be used in the house during the day. Fully charged, the Leaf’s 24 kwh lithium-ion battery can power the average house for about two days.
Mitsubishi Motors, meanwhile, plans to market an optional device that will enable its EVs to supply electricity to rice cookers and other home appliances. It plans to make the device compatible with all its eco-friendly vehicles, including the i-MiEV and eight new EV and plug-in hybrids it is planning to introduce over the next five years.
And Toyota is mulling over the inclusion of a power supply function on its future eco cars, including the Prius hybrid and the upcoming plug-in hybrid it is launching next year. Conversely, there’s already a home battery system – the Smart Energy Veus – that can be used to power a Prius, with some conversion work.
Elsewhere, Honda and the city of Saitama have embarked on the E-KIZUNA Project, and as part of this will construct a house to test its Honda Smart Home System, which will feature electricity generated from solar panels, storing the power in an EV and using it in combination with electricity supplied off the grid. It will also explore the system’s potential to independently produce electricity for the household in the event of a disaster.
There’s still a fair way to go before such practice becomes the norm – utilising electricity from EVs and hybrids to power homes will require utilities to modify their power lines, and new legislation concerning electrical equipment will also be required.
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It not necessary from ome, can be from office, car park…
Kia and Hyundai is still the best!!!
if only we hav a “report spam” button here…sigh
Imaging 20 years later, all our roof will be glass, that mean for solar power, lamp post will also carry the wing, to get solar power, tree have to plant way out from road side …
lamp post will have electrical plug, you insert coin at electrical supply and parking fees
yup thats a cool idea, why waste money to create other post for just paying parking tickects or a charging pole, the lamp post will be a good choice in making it more usable plus dont forget to put cctv too :D
Lamp post owned by TNB, parking meter by local council or contractor, cctv by police others…. I can foresee headaches and blame game. :-D
Workable concept. Just make sure your car is home every day.
one very interesting story. reduce consumption of non-renewable energy.
How bout those who lives in flat, apartment, condominium? When most of them dont have dedicated car park or park roadside.
A good concept for future cars and home. We have strong sunlight almost all year round, and something we could develope locally too. However the cost of solar panels is still expensive as we don’t make the panels here. Another expensive thing is the storange batteries. If we can find local companies to do these two major items, then this concept would not be too far fetch.
If I’m not mistaken, there is solar panel manufacturer here in Malaysia. The problem is we cannot buy it directly from the factory, it will be export their country and then we have to import it. Same like the iphone manufacturer in China
electricity bill sure sky rocket meh
I think this is a very workable concept in Malaysia. We’ve got sun 365 days a year. Even when it rains sometimes it’s still so bright. A lot of potential here.
no. malaysia is cloudy and very warm and humid. solar panel works best if it is cool. heat absorbed need to be dissipated adequately to make it work. solar panel works best at cool climate with clear sky e.g. summer in 4 season region, sun from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. while temperature still at ~20°c
oh really? didn’t know this haha. thanks for the info!
Impressive idea.. this is truly thinking out of the box
great news for hawkers! dont buy gen-set .. buy a car instead .. haha
yaa… all hawkers should use hybrid car/van in future… only if the price is lowered
100% use of renewable solar energy, driving emission free electric cars which could even power the entire house !!!! There’s a high chance of getting a net carbon footprint/emissions of zero (or negative) for the house :)…..!!!!! That’s my dream man, one day………
who are not supporting this kind of green energy idea is a total ass or a petrol oil company supporter that holding the human race backward for their hunger for money.!. im saying this to the person who click unlike or thumbs down for other ppl good positive idea!