Nissan’s presentation at the recent Paris Auto Show created a buzz among journalists, consumers and others interested in all-electric vehicles. The automaker stated that it would produce an as-yet-unnamed all-electric vehicle in Japan by 2010 and globally in 2012. Nissan representatives were quick to separate this announcement from the NuVu all-electric concept car that premiered in Paris.
The NuVu concept car shown at Paris may not be the future production vehicle mentioned by Nissan but some elements will be transferred when the time is right. NuVu is a green vehicle in several ways starting with its sustainable body construction. Nissan indicated that seating, consoles and exterior panels were built from organic and recycled materials to reduce the vehicle’s impact on the environment.
NuVu also uses laminated li-ion batteries developed by the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC). These batteries are capable of powering the NuVu at full charge for a distance of 78 miles at a maximum speed of 75 miles per hour. AESC produced li-ion batteries that can charge at high voltage within 20 minutes and complete a charge from a typical household outlet in four hours.
While many automakers look under the hood when creating all-electric concept cars, Nissan’s engineers have used innovative tools to create a practical electric car. The NuVu has a glass roof made from solar panels to produce supplemental energy for the li-ion batteries. Nissan added low-energy LED lights on the front and rear of the NuVu to reduce energy consumption during operation. The heating and ventilation system in the NuVu will employ filters to purify the air as it enters the driving compartment.
Nissan’s presentation also featured the Pixo, a five-door coupe produced in conjunction with Suzuki Motors. The Pixo uses a three-cylinder engine that consumes 51 miles per gallon during highway driving. While the Nissan Pixo will be available worldwide in spring 2009, the NuVu was getting more attention from attendees. Nissan will need to conduct testing and run out some prototypes of the NuVu before putting its mysterious all-electric vehicle into production. Even if Nissan chooses not to use the exact dimensions and parts from the NuVu concept car, it seems likely that the small two-seater will be the model upon which Nissan rests its all-electric future.
