Nissan provides relief where RE-LEAF can be deployed
Not exactly a valued ally of the Electric Vehicle scene, Iain Robertson admits that the ingenuity demonstrated by Nissan and the UK-based company that developed its Leaf offshoot has clear benefits in an increasingly tempestuous and strife-torn world.
It is a sad fact of life that disasters occur as a result of natural, or man-instigated phenomena and power outages usually result. A 2019 World Bank report found natural shocks and climate change caused 37% of outages in Europe between 2000 and 2017, and 44% of outages in the US over the same period. Whether it be in war-ravaged zones, major conflagrations, or areas afflicted by natural disasters, such as floods, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and tornadoes, international disaster relief specialists are mobilised and the rescue operations commence with immediacy.
Of course, the people involved are often unsung heroes digging deeply into their own resources to help others less fortunate. As may have been seen during the recent California fires, conventional rescue vehicles, such as police cars, ambulances and fire trucks are overwhelmed frequently by conditions and circumstances. However, returning momentarily to the power outages that are inherent to many disasters, while restoring power of any sort is an invariable priority, providing as close to an instant, on-the-spot supply for a variety of essential services can be crucial and life-saving.
Nissan has been working extensively on a specially developed, 100% electric emergency response vehicle concept, designed to provide a mobile power supply following natural disasters, or extreme weather events. A version of its Leaf EV that can provide a positive aid in the recovery process, its lithium-ion battery pack provides a dependable emergency supply of electricity for medical equipment, communications, lighting and other life support items. Given that the time for electricity supply to be restored is typically 24 to 48 hours, dependent on the severity of the damage, during that period, suitably equipped electric vehicles can provide zero-emissions, mobile emergency power.
Known as RE-LEAF, its potential has been hailed as revolutionary by disaster management experts. Access along debris strewn routes is achieved by raising the standard ride height (from 70 to 225mm), fitting beefed-up suspension, installing a protective underbody guard and fitting multi-surface tyres on forged alloy wheels to an otherwise standard Leaf model. The rear seats have been removed to provide space for rescue equipment, vital rehydration supplies and a pull-out desk with 32-inch LED monitor, to be used as a control centre.
Since the Nissan Leaf was launched, it has been equipped with a bi-directional charging ability; it can not only draw charge but also feed it back into the grid, or directly to charge other electric devices. Blessed with high reliability and a consistent supply of electricity a boot-located domestic socket is supported by a pair of weatherproofed external sockets, which can run a jack hammer, a ventilation fan, an ICU ventilator, a 100W floodlight, or other devices, for up to 24 hours.
The technology is already being used in the real world. In Japan, Nissan has drawn on the Leaf to provide both emergency power and transportation following natural disasters, since 2011, and the company has formed partnerships with more than 60 local governments to support disaster relief efforts. The car can also act as a mobile storage battery to supply homes and society with electricity during non-emergency situations, creating a distributable energy model that can be used to help stabilise supply and demand and proving a broader range of applications. Acting as a portable power station, the latest generation Nissan Leaf e+, with a fully charged 62 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery can provide enough electricity to power the average UK household for around six days.
In a 2016 report from the US National Association of State Energy Officials, the potential of EVs following natural disasters was highlighted, stating: “The ability to bring power where it is needed, even on a local scale, can be an invaluable resource during emergencies.” In 2019, the United Nations reported that climate crisis disasters are now happening, at the rate of one a week, and that the last two decades have seen an increase of 151% in direct economic losses from climate-related disasters.
Japan experiences frequent typhoons and around 10% of the world’s earthquakes (more than 2,000 in 2019 alone). In March 2011, the north eastern coast of Japan was struck by the strongest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history. Together with a devastating tsunami that followed, it resulted in 4.8m households losing power. Medical professionals working at an evacuation centre approached Nissan about the potential of using the Leaf electric vehicle, which had been launched less than three months previously, as back-up power for heating and other purposes.
Nissan accelerated the development of its technology to enable the Leaf to share the energy stored in its battery and no less than 66 Leafs were provided to the disaster-struck area to provide power for lighting, heating and other devices. In order to promote the use of EVs to address issues that would include disaster prevention, energy management and climate change, Nissan kick-started the Blue Switch program in 2018.
Little more than a year later, in September 2019, Typhoon Faxai caused massive blackouts in Chiba, Japan and surrounding regions. 340,000 households were left without power for more than three days in unbearably humid weather conditions. Nissan sent a fleet of Leafs to local community centres, where residents were able to use the EV batteries for fans, refrigerators, freezers, lighting and smartphones. As a prime example of automotive technology providing further reaching human benefits, it is worth highlighting that the vehicle modifications for the prototype car shown were carried out by RJN, a UK-based engineering and motorsports firm, with project management by GTA Global Ltd.
Naturally, Nissan is in the automotive scene to sell its motor vehicles but it is fascinating how its EV lines can be repurposed to serve much broader needs.
