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Nissan expands charging options for Ariya and future EV models

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Announcements | Market Trends
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Nissan has launched a new electric vehicle charging network that it says will make charging simpler and more seamless.

The new Nissan Energy Charge Network allows Ariya and future Nissan EV drivers to use their MyNISSAN app to find charging stations, see real-time charger availability, and pay for charging.

“This enhancement to the MyNISSAN app simplifies EV ownership by consolidating vehicle management and public charging into one app,” Nissan said in a news release. “Users store a default payment method in the MyNISSAN app, then once at a compatible charging station, simply tap an on-screen button to start a charging session within the NISSAN ENERGY Charge Network.”

The new feature will be available by November, according to the release.

The network includes more than 90,000 in-network chargers in the U.S. Charging partners include Electrify America, the Shell Recharge branded network, ChargePoint, and EVgo networks. Nissan plans to incorporate additional networks in the future.

This functionality is not currently available to Nissan LEAF owners; however, they can search charging locations through the NissanConnect EV and Services app, the release says.

Beginning later this year, Nissan will make a North American Charging Standard (NACS) adapter available to Ariya drivers, allowing Ariya drivers to charge at compatible Tesla Supercharger locations, and dramatically increasing the number of public charging locations available to Ariya, the release says.

In 2025, Nissan will begin manufacturing its EVs for the U.S. and Canadian markets with a NACS port built into the vehicles.

Nissan also plans to launch 16 new electrified models globally by the end of fiscal year 2026.

Earlier this month, Nissan agreed to invest in ChargeScape — a joint venture equally owned by BMW, Ford, and Honda focused on electric vehicle-grid integration.

Once the transaction is complete, Nissan will become an equal 25% investor in ChargeScape and will roll out ChargeScape’s services to its EV drivers across the U.S. and Canada, according to a Nissan news release.

Last month, BMW, Ford, and Honda announced the launch of ChargeScape, whose software wirelessly connects to EVs and manages the flow of electrons in line with real-time grid conditions. Doing so temporarily reduces demand when the grid is constrained through smart charging (V1G) and sends energy back into the power grid when needed (V2G).

ChargeScape unlocks financial benefits for EV drivers by enabling services like managed charging and vehicle-to-grid export, the release says. When connected with ChargeScape’s platform, EV drivers who choose to do so can receive financial incentives for temporarily pausing charging during periods of high demand and will eventually be able to sell the energy stored in their vehicle’s battery back to the power grid. When this is done, grid operators can avoid dispatching expensive and often high-carbon “peaker plants” when the grid is overloaded.

Nissan’s incorporation into the ChargeScape alliance is of particular significance given its sales of over 650,000 LEAF models in the U.S., one of the first EVs with the capability to export power back to the grid, the release says.

“Nissan is investing heavily in bidirectional charging (V2X) capabilities for its entire electric fleet across the world, and ChargeScape is currently building virtual power plants in California, Texas, and other markets,” the release says.

Joseph Vellone, ChargeScape CEO, added, “We are delighted to welcome Nissan to the ChargeScape joint venture. Nissan’s decision to join us underscores their commitment to helping customers charge more cheaply and sustainably and highlights ChargeScape’s central position in the vehicle-grid integration space.”

Kent O’Hara, president of Nissan’s 4R battery business, said joining ChargeScape helps the OEM contribute to a nationwide reduction in CO2 emissions by enabling utilities to use EV battery energy storage to balance peak grid demands and optimize the use of renewable electricity sources.

“ChargeScape helps us more conveniently and effectively connect utilities to EV drivers, making the ownership experience more valuable for drivers by giving them incentives for participating in managed charging and vehicle-to-grid programs,” he said.

Images

A Nissan Ariya is shown at a charging station. (Provided by Nissan)

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