Earlier this week, the University of Toronto signed a multi-year partnership agreement with Nissan North America.
The partnership was facilitated by Climate Positive Energy, U of T’s centre for interdisciplinary clean energy research. It will accelerate both vehicle- and grid-related research and activity through a joint collaboration between Nissan, the University of Toronto’s Electric Vehicle (UTEV) Research Centre and the Grid Modernization Centre (GMC).
On August 26, Professor Timothy Chan (MIE), U of T’s Associate Vice-President and Vice-Provost, Strategic Initiatives, was joined by Atsushi Teraji, General Manager, EV System Laboratory, Nissan Motor Corp. Japan, for a signing ceremony at the historic Hart House.
Chris Scott, Ontario’s Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Energy and Mines, joined the ceremony and delivered remarks. Also in attendance were other senior members from both Nissan and U of T.
“Our strategic collaboration with Nissan is essential to developing breakthrough research in cleaner mobility and energy storage,” says Chan.
“This partnership will not only accelerate innovation, but also ensure that our research has real-world impact. We look forward to building solutions together that will shape the future of mobility for future generations.”
U of T’s vehicle research excellence is demonstrated through the UTEV Research Centre, a university-industry research hub focused on advancing the next generation of electric vehicle technologies.
Led by Professor Olivier Trescases (ECE), who is also principal investigator on the the new research project, UTEV supports the transition to sustainable transportation through research in EV power electronics, automotive semiconductors, battery systems and charging infrastructure. UTEV brings together researchers across departments and collaborates with industry, utilities and governments to address critical challenges in electrified transportation.
The collaboration will support a research initiative focused on enabling secure, scalable vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems in North America. V2G technology allows electric vehicles to both charge from and supply power back to the grid.
Using edge computing, the project will optimize smart charging and real-time energy management across electric vehicles, homes and the grid – laying the groundwork for a virtual power plant model that enhances grid reliability while protecting user privacy. This project will be accomplished as a collaboration between UTEV and the Grid Modernization Centre, and will be a living example of multi-disciplinary work at U of T.
This interdisciplinary research is supported by a strong ecosystem of student and faculty design teams, specialized laboratories and academic expertise. By collaborating with Nissan, U of T aims to accelerate the commercialization of solutions that can make EVs not only greener modes of transportation but also integral components of resilient, decentralized energy networks.
The project will also benefit from the expertise of Professor Baochun Li (ECE), whose research in artificial intelligence and federated learning will inform data-driven energy management approaches.
Nissan is a recognized leader in the mass-market EV space and recently launched the third generation of its LEAF electric car, which is now available with vehicle-to-load (V2L) connections, enabling LEAF to power small- to medium-sized devices from the vehicle’s battery. In other markets such as Japan, the all-new LEAF continues the nameplate’s ability to deliver vehicle-to-home (V2H) functionality, allowing it to supply electricity back to a home or receive solar generated energy.
Nissan’s continued investment into electric mobility includes ongoing research into V2X technologies that will allow EV batteries to serve as an essential part of sustainable energy sourcing. For example, EV owners could use their vehicles as mobile energy sources to power devices and even their homes during power outages, or to supply power back to the grid during peak demand situations to support balanced, greener energy generation. Through this new agreement, Nissan hopes to leverage U of T’s advanced research to enhance the performance, efficiency and real-world deployment of V2G systems worldwide.
“Electric vehicles have the potential to not only decarbonize everyday transportation for drivers, but also to serve as a crucial part of smarter, greener, stronger electrical grids for the future,” says Teraji.
“Collaborative research with the University of Toronto in this crucial field will help us develop real-world applications for the power of EVs and V2X technology.”
Nissan is the latest partner to join the Grid Modernization Centre, which has already engaged more than 50 partners from the energy eco-system including federal departments, industry and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), utilities, regulators, small- and medium-size enterprises, start-ups, and industry associations.
Nissan’s longstanding leadership in the electric vehicle space will enhance the new partnership by bringing valuable industry insights and real-world challenges that help ground academic research in practical applications, helping the Grid Modernization Centre advance Canada’s commitments to reaching net-zero by 2050.
“Ontario is proud to be the engine of Canada’s automotive and energy innovation,” says Parliamentary Assistant Chris Scott.
“This partnership between the University of Toronto and Nissan demonstrates how Ontario’s world-class post-secondary research is driving advances in clean energy and next-generation vehicles. By leveraging our unmatched talent and innovation, Ontario is strengthening the automotive sector, protecting good-paying jobs today and building the strongest, most resilient economy in the G7 for tomorrow.”
