Nissan Leaf EV Revealed

Brent — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 09:37:49 +0000

Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn unveiled Nissan’s first zero-emission electric vehicle (EV) at the company’s new headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday, in the form of a blue hatchback. The hatchback, which is set to go on sale in Japan, the U.S. next year and worldwide from 2012, had a sporty design penned by Nissan designer, Shiro Nakamura, and was the first time the external design of the EV was revealed. Nakamura said the EV was designed to be a real car rather than a futuristic design as Nissan does not intended the Leaf to be a niche car; a sentiment reiterated by Carlos Ghosn.

Nissan may lease the expensive lithium-ion battery to keep the price of the Nissan Leaf, as the EV is named, in the same range as similar gas-engine car such as the 1.5 million yen ($15,000) Nissan Tiida, which sells abroad as the Nissan Versa. “The monthly cost of the battery, plus the electric charge, will be less than the cost of gasoline,” Mr Ghosn said.

Nissan demonstrates its electric vehicle platform

Brent — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:44:38 +0000

YOKOSUKA, Japan – Nissan Motor Co. demonstrated its super-quiet, pure zero-emission electric vehicle (EV) platform on a Versa/Tiida-based prototype earlier today. The prototype uses a 24 kWh compact lithium-ion battery pack located under the vehicle floor to allow for more cabin and luggage space. The battery is recharged while the car is driving by the energy from the braking system, extending the driving range to 160 kilometres (99 miles) under a full charge. A handy navigation map screen on the EV’s dashboard provides a driving radius within range of the car’s charge, so drivers won’t get stranded on the highway. The electric motor powering the EV delivers 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque for response and powerful acceleration.

The major hurdle facing EV platforms is the high production price, which Nissan has promised to tackle. The company has yet to announce the price of its firs EV car but company spokeswoman Pauline Kee said the electric vehicle would be “competitive” with regular gasoline vehicles when it is launched in Japan and the U.S. in 2010. The EV will also have a unique exterior design, which Nissan plans to unveil at its new Global Headquarters Opening in Yokohama on August 2, 2009.

Nissan Car Blog » Yokohama

Nissan Leaf EV Revealed

Nissan demonstrates its electric vehicle platform