Criticism surrounding the Nissan Leaf usually doesn't revolve around the vehicle's appearance, sustainability, or functionality; rather, critics wonder what will become of the Leaf's battery after it can no longer power the car. Nissan has been researching ways to recycle and reuse these batteries for a while now. One of the company's projects even suggested that the "old" Leaf batteries, even after becoming non-functional for the automobile, could still power several homes during times of power loss or emergency. Nissan has now proven this hypothesis with its Smart House, which debuted at the 2011 Toyko Motor show.

To supply the electricity from the Leaf to the Smart House, Nissan uses  a power control system box that can supply up to six thousand kilowatts of power. The Smart House actually only uses about one to two kilowatts of power and includes lights, a fan, a television, a clock, a mini-fridge, and an air conditioner. The Leaf's battery life can keep the typical Japanese household powered for about two days, which is good news for a country that has extremely high electricity costs. Nissan also expects the Smart House to be able to supply power back to the grid, but this isn't possible yet. Interested parties can pick up the power control system around the end of March 2012. The Smart House can also power itself during sunny days with solar panels on its roof, and the Nissan Leaf can be powered using the same solar energy as well. Fuel cells inside the Smart House optimize energy-saving during cloudy times when the Leaf is away.

Here at Crystal Nissan, we are proud to be part of a company that does its part by being environmentally-aware and searching for ways for its drivers to create smaller carbon footprints. If you're not quite ready for an EV, but still want a dependable, fuel-efficient vehicle, check out the 2012 Nissan Altima. Visit us at 937 South Suncoast Blvd Homosassa, FL 34448 or call us at (877)357-9984 for more information.