Winemaker goes from high energy bill to added profit using his Nissan LEAF’s solar energy storage capabilities
Facing rising electricity costs that climbed to around $6,000 a year, one winemaker decided he had had enough. Joseph Evans first installed a solar energy system to power his entire property while the sun was out. However, he wanted to take it a step further. So, he started using his Nissan LEAF with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities to store energy during the day to power the property at night — which reduces cost and even adds an extra profit stream since he can sell the excess back to the grid.
Vineyard uses solar energy and Nissan LEAF with V2G to cut costs
“I’ve gone from a $6000 annual power bill to making around $50 per week (over $2,500 a year) in profit selling my excess power back to the grid,” says Joseph Evans, owner of Ballycroft Vineyard and Cellars in South Australia.
After watching his electricity bill climb to $6,000, the winemaker took matters into his own hands by installing a rooftop solar energy system. The solar system powers the entire vineyard during daylight hours, reducing electricity costs by $4,000.
Evans was determined to reduce the remaining $2,000 in annual power costs stemming from nightly usage, which is where his Nissan LEAF electric vehicle came to the rescue.
In September, Nissan announced it approved its first V2G charger for LEAF drivers. The EV has come with bidirectional charging capabilities since the model year 2013 but lacked a charging unit.
V2G allows you to send energy from the vehicle’s battery back to the grid during peak demand times to save on electricity costs or make an additional profit, such as in Evans’s case.
That is more than $2500 in annual profit, from what was once a significant cost. And what’s even better is the fact that, while fuel and electricity prices are only heading in one direction — and that direction is up — my costs are fixed, and fixed at zero.
He added, “Instead of paying for my power, I’m getting paid for my power.” Ballycroft is one of the first test sites in Australia approved by SA Power Networks (SAPN) to utilize V2G technology.
This is a game-changer, and I wanted to be right at the front of the queue to have V2G installed. It makes me entirely self-sufficient with my power needs, makes my home and business more sustainable, and it’s so easy to use.
Evans powers up his business and home using a Wallbox Quasar V2G charging unit and the 40 kWh battery in his Nissan LEAF, the same EV he drives to deliver wine to local restaurants. When he’s done, he recharges the LEAF and then, at night, plugs it into the V2G charger to power his home and property.
According to Evans, his Nissan LEAF provides adequate energy for living, heating, cooling, and meeting the demands of his 10-acre vineyard. He also has enough to send back to the grid, earning him a rebate.
You can watch a video of the operation here.
Electrek’s Take
V2G and bidirectional charging technology is unlocking a new benefit for EV drivers. The ability to send energy back to the grid or power a home during peak energy demand hours can save on utility costs and promote a sustainable energy grid.
Adding solar energy into the mix with V2G, as the Bollycraft Vineyard did with their Nissan LEAF, can help maximize the benefits and reduce stress on the grid in the long run while supporting self-sufficient power needs.
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Florida’s State Parks are stepping up their environmental and operational game, introducing a large fleet of powerful electric bikes to support park ranger patrols.
The Florida State Parks Foundation, under its sustainability-focused Greener Initiative, recently announced the expansion of e‑bike units across the state’s parks system. The fleet of Velotric Nomad e-bikes, each equipped with 750‑watt motors and with a claimed 65‑mile range, can offer a substantial 500‑lb payload capacity. They also feature 4″ wide fat tires optimized for riding on rough paths or off-road trails, making them ideal for park ranger patrols.
These e‑bikes are now being distributed to multiple locations throughout Florida, including Fort Clinch, Olustee Battlefield Historic, Rainbow Springs, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center, and Suwannee River State Park.
According to Julia Gill Woodward, CEO of the Foundation, the overwhelming success of the first wave of e‑bikes prompted swift expansion. “The Greener Initiative has done incredible things to reduce our environmental footprint,” she noted, adding that it’s “even more amazing when Greener projects align with resources that support our rangers.”
These additions bring the statewide fleet to 50 e‑bikes, funded via sales from the “Explore Our State Parks” specialty license plate. Starting in 2023, the Greener Initiative has rolled out a variety of efforts to make Florida’s parks cleaner and more efficient, including slashing emissions, cutting down on waste, lowering energy consumption, and enhancing the overall experience for visitors.
Electrek’s Take
I love this, and it’s a great example of how e-bikes are perfect for so many different patrol uses among park rangers, police officers, security companies, and other types of official fleet usage.
We’re seeing this more and more, and the reason is obvious: It works. E-bikes are a lot cheaper than alternatives like UTVs, golf carts, or “real” vehicles like cars and trucks. They require significantly less maintenance, and they’re a lot more fun too.
I just hope they mount some extra water bottle holders. I often ride in Florida, and in the summer, I can drink a gallon a day… on an electric bike!
Via: WCJB
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Lucid’s most adventurous vehicle has just arrived. The Lucid Gravity can drive 450 miles on a single charge, comfortably fits seven, and is faster than the average sports car. Lucid promises the new X concept takes the electric family hauler to a new level.
Meet the Lucid Gravity X adventure-ready EV SUV
Lucid has been hyping the new model as “a bold new concept of electric exploration,” describing it as its most adventurous vehicle to date.
At Monterey Car Week on Friday, we finally got our first look at Lucid’s stunning new Gravity X concept. Based on the Lucid Gravity Grand Touring, which features an impressive up to 450 miles of EPA-estimated range, AWD, and a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.4 secs, the X is designed to take you even further.
As Lucid put it, the X “advances this exceptional foundation, exploring what it would be like to push the limits further.
The concept features a new look, lifted ride height, and added off-road elements for all on and off-road adventures. Lucid fine-tuned the front and rear ends to improve approach and departure angles. It also slapped all-terrain tires, protective skid plates, and tow hooks on it, just in case.
Like we first saw in the teaser, the X concept is equipped with an integrated crossbar with LED lights and a roof box.
Lucid says every detail on the new concept was intentional, from the Astral Drift satin paint to the topographical references to Big Spur and Death Valley on the hood.
The interior features upgrades, including premium leather seats, high-performance floor mats, and a microsuede steering wheel.
According to Lucid, the Gravity X, pronounced Gravity Cross, is “ready to go anywhere. Take on everything. And compromise nothing.”
Although it’s just a concept for now, the X gives us a glimpse into a future off-road Gravity trim. As we mentioned earlier this week, Lucid could be preparing to introduce a rugged new variant to compete with Rivian’s California Dune Edition R1S and R1T models.
What do you think of the rugged Gravity X Concept? Should Lucid bring it to life? It wouldn’t be surprising to see a new variant hit the market soon.
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This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes new e-bikes from Heybike, the Priority Skyline launch, Segway’s new 50 MPH electric scooter, a Bafang hub motor with automatic shifting, and more.
The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.
As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in.
After the show ends, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps:
We also have a Patreon if you want to help us to avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons and more coming.
Here are a few of the articles that we will discuss during the Wheel-E podcast today:
Here’s the live stream for today’s episode starting at 9:00 a.m. ET (or the video after 10:00 a.m. ET):
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