Nissan announced in a statement the company is working with Fermata Energy, a vehicle-to-grid services provider, to deploy the first bi-directional charger for use with the Nissan LEAF in the U.S.

With Nissan's approval, along with its UL 9741 certification for bi-directional charging systems, the Fermata Energy FE-15 charger has passed key requirements from Nissan and has been verified to be compatible with the Nissan LEAF. Usage of the approved charger will also not impact the LEAF's battery warranty.

Bi-directional charging technology is used to charge the Nissan LEAF and send energy stored in the vehicle battery back to the building or the grid. According to the statement, suppling energy to the grid allows LEAF owners with the Fermata Energy FE-15 bi-directional charger to park their vehicle, plug it in, and save money with their local electric utility and reduce the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.

The Fermata Energy Demand Charge Management application, along with the FE-15 charger, continuously monitors a building's electrical loads and may draw on the Nissan LEAF's energy to provide power to the building during more expensive high-demand periods. In states with utility demand response programs, bi-directional-enabled Nissan LEAF vehicles (MY2013 and later) can safely send energy stored in the battery to the grid during peak energy demand times, such as in summer months.