Nissan Nuvu Concept Electric Vehicle

There is no better representation of Nissan's vision for the future of Electric Vehicles (EV) than the new Nuvu concept vehicle, a 'new view' of the type of car consumers are likely to be driving in the middle of next decade.  Compact - it's just 3m long - Nuvu features a unique 2+1 seating arrangement.  It is aimed at urban dwellers who don't want to compromise on their personal freedom or vehicle comfort, yet appreciate the environmental challenges the world faces, both now and in the future.

Nissan has already announced plans to introduce an all-electric car in Japan and the US in 2010 and to mass-market it globally in 2012.  The Nuvu concept car shares some of the technology that will feature in this planned production, as does the concept Mixim EV that Nissan Australia presented to the Australian public at October 2008's Australian International Motor Show in Sydney.

Built on a unique platform, Nuvu is just 3 meters long and uniquely, across its all-glass roof, features a dozen or so small solar panels.  Shaped like leaves on a branch, the power they generate is fed to the battery via the 'tree trunk' within the car and used to help recharge the battery and provide an extra power boost for the electric motor. As well as being genuinely green energy, it is estimated that the power generated via the solar panels will save the equivalent of one full overnight charge from mains electricity each month.

Nuvu also uses natural, organic and recycled materials throughout the cabin to reflect an increasing empathy for the environment.  The floor is made from wood fibers pressed into laminate sheets and is studded with rubber inserts made from recycled tyres for grip.

The electric motor used in Nuvu is mounted at the rear of the vehicle and drives the back wheels, with a driving range of 125 kms and top speed of 120 km/h.  A "quick charge" from empty to full will take between 10 to 20 minutes, while a full charge should take between three to four hours from a 220V socket.

Unlike a conventional lithium-ion battery with its bulky cylindrical cells, the laminated Li-Ion battery used in Nuvu has thin laminated cells and fewer components overall.  This boosts its power by a factor of 1.5 at the same time as halving its physical size.  It also remains twice as efficient as a conventional cylindrical Li-Ion battery even after five years or 100,000 kms of continuous usage.

Although a concept vehicle exploring aspects of future vehicle design, Nuvu embodies many messages for today's consumers.  The use of recycled and natural materials underlines Nuvu's environmental message and its use of solar energy is an exciting and highly practical technological solution in the path towards an emission free future.