Nissan-Led UK Project Aims to Revolutionize EV Charging with Solar, AI, and V2G Technology

In June 2026, Nissan announced Project SUITE (Smart Use of Integrated Technology for EVs), a £10 million UK Government-backed research initiative that aims to fundamentally change how electric vehicles are charged, powered, and integrated with renewable energy systems. The three-year project is designed to reduce home and public charging costs, improve EV efficiency, increase access to renewable energy, and strengthen the electricity grid through advanced energy technologies.

The project is being led by engineers at Nissan Technical Centre Europe in Cranfield, England, and is supported through the UK Government’s £4 billion DRIVE35 program, delivered by the Department for Business and Trade in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) and Innovate UK. Nissan is leading a consortium of ten business and academic partners to combine advanced power electronics, artificial intelligence, solar technology, and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) capabilities into a single integrated vehicle platform.

Project SUITE will focus on five major technology areas.

The first is vehicle-integrated tandem solar panels, which are designed to continuously generate renewable electricity while the vehicle is parked or driving. The onboard solar system will supplement battery charging, extend driving range, reduce how often owners need to plug in, and lower household electricity costs by generating clean energy directly from sunlight.

The second technology is an Intelligent Charging Management System (ICMS). This system will automatically manage a customer’s electricity consumption by determining the most efficient times to charge an EV, reducing electricity bills while allowing excess renewable energy to be returned to the electrical grid when available.

The third innovation is a bidirectional Automated Charging Device (ACD) that supports real-world Vehicle-to-Grid operation. The system is designed to simplify V2G charging by automating the charging connection while maintaining communication with the electrical grid. By making bidirectional charging easier to use, Nissan hopes to increase adoption of V2G technology, allowing EVs to function as mobile energy storage systems capable of supplying electricity back to homes and utilities when needed.

Another major component is a high-efficiency Gallium Nitride (GaN) traction inverter featuring AI-enhanced controls. Gallium Nitride semiconductors offer higher switching speeds and greater efficiency than conventional silicon-based electronics. Combined with artificial intelligence, the new inverter is expected to improve drivetrain efficiency, increase vehicle performance, reduce energy losses, and lower manufacturing costs.

The final objective is to integrate all of these technologies into a single production-ready package that combines efficient power electronics, onboard solar generation, intelligent charging management, and Vehicle-to-Grid capability. Nissan will use the all-new, British-built Nissan LEAF as the project’s demonstration vehicle, transforming today’s production EV into a test platform for tomorrow’s intelligent energy ecosystem.

Project SUITE is already underway using the latest Nissan LEAF models as development vehicles. Engineers will evaluate how the integrated technologies perform under real-world driving conditions while gathering data that could influence future production vehicles.

David Moss, Senior Vice President of Research and Development for Nissan Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania (AMIEO), said the project highlights the strength of UK innovation and represents a significant step toward the next generation of integrated energy technologies for electric vehicles.

He said collaboration between industry and academic partners is helping Nissan develop technologies that lower ownership costs, improve efficiency, and provide greater value for customers. Moss added that innovations including enhanced Vehicle-to-Grid capability, high-performance Gallium Nitride inverters, and solar-assisted charging reinforce the UK’s role in developing a smarter, more resilient energy ecosystem while laying the groundwork for future electrified vehicles.

Ian Constance, CEO of the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, said collaborative research projects such as Project SUITE demonstrate the UK’s commitment to leading the transition to zero-emission transportation. He noted that support through the DRIVE35 program is helping transform world-class research into industrial capability by supporting manufacturers, strengthening domestic supply chains, and investing in the companies and workforce that will shape the future of clean transportation.

Project SUITE brings together expertise from across industry and academia. Consortium members include Weeteq, which is validating AI microcontrollers for automotive applications; Oxford PV, which is developing automotive solar modules; Ricardo, which is creating advanced low-cost Gallium Nitride traction inverters; RAM Innovations, which is developing high-power GaN module manufacturing capabilities; the University of Bristol, which is conducting semiconductor analysis; Newcastle University, which is developing digital forecasting tools for Vehicle-to-Grid systems; the University of Nottingham, which is advancing current-source inverter design and controls; the University of Oxford, which is researching next-generation solar cell materials; and University College London, which is modeling electricity networks to optimize Vehicle-to-Grid operation.

By combining onboard renewable energy generation, artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, intelligent charging management, and bidirectional energy flow, Project SUITE represents one of Nissan’s most comprehensive efforts to redefine how electric vehicles interact with homes, the electrical grid, and renewable energy infrastructure.