Nissan Motor said it would launch its Energy Share energy management service in Japan on 1 March which, it said, would help “unlock the value” of electric vehicles (EVs).

The company claimed the service uses new energy management technology which automatically controls the charging and discharging of EV batteries. It charges batteries during off peak energy times and uses batteries to power buildings during peak energy prices.

The automaker said it established Energy Share after extensive studies and field tests in locations in Fukushima prefecture to establish “the most efficient ways of managing energy” and to validate its “proprietary technologies for autonomously charging and discharging EV batteries”.

The service would be offered mainly to companies and municipal governments, to enable optimal energy management in line with the needs and circumstances of its customers.

Nissan said in a statement: “EV batteries do more than power vehicles. They are mobile energy units capable of directly powering buildings and communities. Our intelligent charging management system helps realize the full potential of EVs."

The automaker said the system has a charge-discharge controller which predicts vehicles’ energy usage. It obtains real time information on a vehicle’s remaining charge as well as energy use in buildings and autonomously determines the optimal timing to charge and discharge the batteries.

The technology allows energy load shifting and peak shaving without compromising the performance or comfort of the vehicle. When connected to solar panels, users can directly consume off grid renewable energy produced on site.