Nissan Motor Company plans to unveil the final version of its EV sedan on August 2nd in Yokohama. The automaker threw some morsels to auto bloggers and industry experts last week by presenting its EV platform in a Nissan Tiida frame. Nissan also presented the EV-IT system that will be featured in production EVs starting in 2010 as part of this preliminary exhibition.
The Nissan EV platform is centered on an 80kW electric motor with enough power to rival the Japanese automaker’s traditional vehicles. The electric motor is powered by a 24kWh compact lithium-ion battery placed underneath the floor. Nissan’s regenerative braking system uses frequent braking in urban areas to recharge batteries on the fly. This EV platform is capable of traveling up to 99 miles per charge though Nissan is likely to improve upon this range in the next year.
Nissan’s more intriguing announcement last week was the EV-IT system featured in the Nissan Tiida prototype. The EV-IT system will connect drivers to a Nissan data center around the clock for GPS capabilities, emergency services and performance analysis. Nissan packed a maximum range display, charge station map, features timer and remote controlling within the EV-IT system.
The EV-IT’s maximum range display widens and narrows a map of the area based on available power. The charging station map creates icons on the maximum range display showing EV stations in the area. Drivers using EV-ITs can turn on their air conditioners and plug-in charging units at specific hours using the timer feature. The remote control feature of the EV-IT system allows drivers to control secondary features like air conditioning without sitting in the driver’s seat. The EV-IT remote control feature gives users the opportunity to monitor battery life using mobile phones and laptops.
We will continue to cover Nissan’s evolving EV design in the next few weeks but the future looks promising for the automaker. The first incarnation of the Nissan EV platform is substantial enough for Japanese and American consumers interested in mid-range travel. The EV-IT system is the first step toward reducing fuel consumption, improving travel planning and making consumers feel comfortable with EV technology. As Nissan unveils the production version of its EV in August, we will see the future of green transportation come into sharp focus.
