Nissan electric vehicles

Nissan Leaf and Land Glider
at Tokyo Motor Show 2009

Nissan Motors has carried out significant research and development for mass market electric vehicles. As part of the partnership with Renault the Leaf was launched simultaneously in Japan, Europe, and North America in 2010.

Launch

Nissan will supply the state of Oregon with electric cars starting late in 2010 the latest in a series of agreements aimed at encouraging demand for the ultra-clean vehicles. The Renault-Nissan alliance formed a similar deal with Tennessee earlier this year to establish the conditions to encourage the use of electric cars in the central part of the state where Nissan has its U.S. headquarters. The alliance also has concluded accords with Israel, Portugal, Denmark, Spain, France and a prefecture in Japan.^[1] Renault-Nissan Motors alliance is in the Advisory Council of the PHEV Research Center.When Nissan launches its new line of electrical vehicles in America in 2010, it will initially target fleet buyers, which can provide their own charging stations. "It will be a real business," says Tom Lane, Nissan's global product-planning chief, "not just a way to sell 200 cars in California." He expects sales to retail buyers to begin in 2012, at a price of around US$25,000.^[2]

Batteries

Nissan Motor Company, Ltd. aims to profit from the next generation of plug-in hybrid vehicles. In April, the company launched a joint venture with NEC Corporation and its subsidiary, NEC TOKIN Corporation, to develop and mass produce advanced lithium-ion batteries. On May 19, the new company, called Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), began full operations. The new company will invest US$114.6 million over a three-year period in a manufacturing facility that will start producing 13,000 batteries per year in 2009. At full capacity, the plant will manufacture 65,000 batteries per year.^[3]

The batteries employ a compact laminated configuration with lithium-manganese electrodes, which NEC TOKIN will manufacture at a separate facility through an additional investment of US$105.1 million over the next three years. AESC intends to install the batteries in electric forklifts next year, and Nissan plans to use the batteries in both a hybrid and an all-electric vehicle starting in 2010. Nissan claims that the batteries deliver twice as much power as the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in today's hybrid vehicles. In field tests exceeding 60,000 miles (97,000 km), the batteries have demonstrated high performance without any safety problems, according to the company.^{[citation needed]}

Production facility

Nissan plans a production hybrid electric vehicle to be introduced in 2010, not based on any current Nissan model. Nissan's original hybrid-electric delivered two breakthrough technologies a high-performance rear- wheel-drive hybrid system and a parallel-power-train hybrid system. The hybrid employs Nissan's own originally developed hybrid technology and its first rear-wheel-drive hybrid power-train.^[4]

Other

Nissan Motor and Robert Bosch GmbH are in talks to form a comprehensive alliance in hybrid systems and parts.^[5] Nissan is also hedging its bets by developing both a "parallel hybrid" system (akin to that found in the Toyota Prius) and a plug-in "series hybrid" similar to the Chevy Volt. But it favours the all-electric approach, even though it will be a tough sell, says Mr Lane. As for Mr Ghosn, he has no doubts. "We must have zero-emission vehicles," he says. "Nothing else will prevent the world from exploding." ^[2] Nissan is developing a plug-in hybrid vehicle that could hit the market after the debut of its electric cars in 2010.^[6]

Models

Leaf

Nuvu

Land Glider

Altra

Hypermini

Nissan Esflow

On February 9, 2011, Nissan introduced the Nissan Esflow, to be unveiled at the March 2011 Geneva Motor Show. It is a sports car weighing less than 1,000 kilograms (2,000 lb), capable of going 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 60 mph) in five seconds and having a range of 240 km (150 mi) on a single charge. The body is similar to the Nissan 370Z and the headlights and taillights are similar to the Nissan Juke's.^[7] The expected price is US$34,000 to US$40,000.^{[citation needed]}

Nissan Townpod

Unveiled at the October 2010 Paris Motor Show, the Townpod is a two-door high-tech vehicle cable of performance as both a family car and a work car for entrepreneurs. With the capability to seat five, it has rear fold-down seats. Production dates, prices, and estimated driving range on a single charge have not yet^[when?] been announced.

Nissan Leaf

Main article: Nissan Leaf

On August 2, 2009, Nissan announced the production of the Leaf, the company's first all-electric vehicle. The car, which went on sale in December 2010,^[8] can drive 160 km (100 mi) on a single charge.^[9] The 2010 release will be in select markets including Japan, Europe, and the United States. In 2010, the five major markets which will see the Nissan Leaf released include Tennessee, Oregon, Seattle, San Diego, and the Phoenix-Tucson region.^{[dated info]} There will be a global release of the Nissan Leaf in 2012.^[10]

Nissan Nuvu

Main article: Nissan Nuvu

Nissan Nuvu is a compact all-electric city car with 2+1 seating, with solar panels shaped like tree leaves on the roof that channel the sun's power through a "tree trunk" conduit in the center of the vehicle. It can reach about 121 km/h (75 mph) and travel up to about 129 km (80 mi) on an electric charge.^[11][12]

Nissan Land Glider

Nissan unveiled the narrow, weight-shifting Land Glider Concept at the October 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Land Glider looks and feels like a mixture between a car, a motorcycle, and an airplane. The rear-view mirrors have been replaced by cameras and monitors.^[10] Inside, the traditional steering wheel is replaced with something that looks more at home in a modern jet aircraft.^{[says who?]} Riding on a motorcycle-inspired Tandem architecture, the Land Glider and its tires can lean up to 17 degrees in turns. Power comes from two electric motors connected to lithium-ion batteries mounted underneath the floor. More importantly,^{[says who?]} the Land Glider features a non-contact charging system that enables it to be recharged at any wireless charging station.^[13][14]

Nissan Altra

The Nissan Altra was an electric car produced by Nissan Motors between 1998 and 2002. The Nissan Altra was introduced at the LA Auto Show on 29 December 1997. Nissan described the Altra as a combination of a sedan, SUV, and minivan. It was mainly used as a fleet vehicle for companies such as electric utilities. Only about 200 vehicles were ever produced. It was based on the Nissan R'nessa, and was sold as an R'nessa in the Japanese domestic market.

Nissan Hypermini

Main article: Hypermini

The Hypermini is a two-seater electric car produced by Nissan Motors. It was introduced in a limited way in Japan in 1999. It was launched for retail sale through Nissan dealers in the greater Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto metropolitan areas in February 2000, priced at ¥4,000,000 (about US$36,567) with a 200-volt mount-type battery charger and ¥4,015,000 with a 200-volt non-fixed battery charger. Sales were targeted principally at national government offices and agencies, local government bodies and corporations. Nissan claims the Hypermini consumes a quarter the energy of a typical car.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. ^ "News, forum, blog on Electric Car and Plug-in Hybrid · USA: Nissan announces electric car deal with Oregon". 4EVRiders.org. 2008-11-19. http://www.4evriders.org/2008/11/usa-nissan-announces-electric-car-deal-with-oregon/. Retrieved 2009-04-27. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Charge! Electric Vehicles". The Economist. http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=101846&topicId=103840033&docId=l:788745319. 
3. ^ EERE News: EERE Network News
4. ^ http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=101846&topicId=103840033&docId=l:840211327
5. ^ "Nissan, Bosch in Talks on Hybrid Systems". Green Car Congress. 2007-11-14. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/11/report-nissan-b.html#more. 
6. ^ http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:845591318
7. ^ Candace Lombardi (February 2011). "Nissan releases Esflow details before Geneva show". cnet. http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31346_7-20031345-252.html. Retrieved 2011-05-05. 
8. ^ John O'Dell (2010-12-03). "Nissan Leaf Officially On Sale in U.S. Dec. 11; Japan Launch Set for Dec. 20". Edmunds.com. http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/12/nissan-leaf-officially-on-sale-in-us-dec-11-japan-launch-set-for-dec-20.html. Retrieved 2010-12-03. 
9. ^ "Nissan: Your car has low emissions? Well OUR car has none!". shortformblog. http://shortformblog.com/tech/nissan-your-car-has-low-emissions-well-our-car-has-none. 
10. ^ ^{a b} http://www.monkeylog.com/2009/10/25/nissans-zero-emission-land-glider/
11. ^ Neff, John (2008-09-05). "Nissan Nuvu concept, Pixo city car, revised Note headed to Paris". Autoblog.com. http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/05/nissan-nuvu-concept-pixo-city-car-revised-note-headed-to-paris/. Retrieved 2009-04-27. 
12. ^ Korzeniewski, Jeremy (2008-10-02). "Paris 2008: Nissan Nuvu in the flesh". Autobloggreen.com. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/10/02/paris-2008-nissan-nuvu-in-the-flesh/. Retrieved 2009-04-27. 
13. ^ Michael Gauthier (2009-10-07). "Nissan Land Glider Concept Highlighted for Tokyo Motor Show". World Car Fans. http://www.worldcarfans.com/109100722301/nissan-land-glider-concept-highlighted-for-tokyo-motor. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
14. ^ Nunn, Peter; Stevens, Dan (2009-10-21). "Tokyo video: Nissan Land Glider". Autocar. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Nissan-Concepts/243857/. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 

External links

• Nissan Zero Emission Website (English)
• 日産 | 電気自動車 (EV) 総合情報サイト (Japanese)