Trickle charging an Electric Vehicle isn’t the most convenient method as full charges can occur in as long as 22 hours. As the fully electric Nissan LEAF is becoming more globally available (Swedish sales have just begun), the need to charge as fast as possible is a heavy concern. Quick charging systems might be a solution and Nissan has started work on a mass marketed unit that should go on sale in November 2011.
The initial market will be Japanese companies who have LEAFs as fleet vehicles. The fleet segment is where most EV development takes place before it reaches the hands of consumers. Nissan Motor Company already has a quick charger for Japan with a price tag of 1.47 million yen, but its size is not realistic for public use. The new system, which is meant for the public, is nearly half the size and will cost a significant amount less compared to the older charger. By the end of the 2015 fiscal year, Nissan plans to sell about 5,000 units. As of now, only “preparations” are taking place to make the new quick charger U.S. and Europe ready.
The new unit is made to be consumer ready and thus is safe to use in severe weather such as rain. It also complies with the EV association Charge De Move (CHAdeMO) 1 Protocol, meaning that it will work with other electric vehicles other than Nissan’s.
Source: Nissan
