Nissan, GE to Showcase Future Smart Grid with Electric Vehicles at SAE 2012 World Congress

What if you could charge your electric car in under 30 minutes? What if your car could “talk” to your house or directly to the utility to manage electricity and save money?  Keeping with the “Get Connected” theme of the SAE 2012 World Congress, Nissan and its strategic partner, GE, will showcase interactive exhibits that demonstrate the integration of electric cars like the Nissan LEAF into the home with the latest Smart Grid technologies.

Other demonstrations will include Nissan’s CHAdeMO-based DC quick charging system and vehicle-to-home, reverse-flow power management with the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s display will also include the all-new 2013 Altima sedan, which goes on sale this Summer.  GE’s display will include its WattStationTM EV charging station; Nucleus Home Energy Manager, which communicates wirelessly with smart devices in the home to monitor household electricity consumption; and Demand Response Management System (DRMS) software, which can be used by utilities to manage electricity loads.  

The joining of Nissan and GE for the exhibit and partnership in the 2012 World Congress illustrates the dramatic changes underway in the automotive world. As the Internet moves from consumers to industry and automobiles embrace alternative fuels and electric transportation, new connections are being made across industry sectors to facilitate this transformation. GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt will deliver the opening keynote address at the World Congress. The title of his address is "Moving an Industry, Powering our Future." His address will focus on the challenges and opportunities with building a more efficient and productive world and how solutions like alternative fuels and electric vehicles, can help bring about this movement. 

“As a global leader in the development and sale of electric vehicles, we know that it is crucial to collaborate with companies like GE to expand the use of this technology and to open doors to more consumers,” said Carla Bailo, senior vice president, Research and Development, Nissan Americas.  “The innovations you will see in the Nissan/GE display at 2012 SAE World Congress demonstrate what happens when two industry leaders ‘Get Connected’ to benefit our customers.”

 “The Nissan/GE booth will demonstrate what smart, sustainable living will look like in the future,” said Mark Little, Senior Vice President and Director, GE Global Research. “Visit our booth and you will see firsthand how smart connections between the grid, the home and the car can help us improve the way energy is managed and consumed.”

The Nissan/GE booth will demonstrate some of the most far-reaching technical capabilities yet of the future Smart Grid and home, including:

• The EV communicating directly with the utility or with the home energy manager to help manage electricity consumption;
• The EV acting as a back-up power source in the event of a power outage;
• Time-of-Use demand response scenarios where devices in the home like the refrigerator, washer/dryer and EV charger react to changes in the prices of electricity based upon the time of day.

The booth demonstration builds on the existing R&D agreement that Nissan and GE have in place on smart charging. GE and Nissan have two key areas where they are focusing their research efforts. The first relates to the integration of electric vehicles with homes and buildings. The second looks at electric vehicle charging dynamics and the future impact on the grid once millions of electric cars are on the road.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.

About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.

For more information on our products, services and commitment to Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

About GE Global Research
GE Global Research is the hub of technology development for all of GE's businesses. Our scientists and engineers redefine what’s possible, drive growth for our businesses and find answers to some of the world’s toughest problems.  

We innovate 24 hours a day, with sites in Niskayuna, New York; Bangalore, India; Shanghai, China; Munich, Germany; and fifth global research facility to open in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2012. Visit GE Global Research on the web at www.ge.com/research. Connect with our technologists at http://www.edisonsdesk.com and http://twitter.com/edisonsdesk.

For more information, contact:

Brian Brockman
Nissan Corporate Communications
Tel: +1 248-488-4227
Brian.Brockman@Nissan-USA.com

Todd Alhart
GE Media
Tel: +1-518-387-7914
Todd.Alhart@ge.com
http://twitter.com/ToddAlhart

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