Nissan Motor plans to put release a lightweight, subcompact electric car powered by lithium-ion batteries developed in-house by 2009, according to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun [via Green Car Congress].Nissan will also reportedly roll-out its gasoline-electric hybrids - possibly with plug-in capability - based on its own technology by 2010. The new 2007 Altima Hybrid is based on technology licensed from Toyota.
Nissan is projecting a driving range for the electric vehicle of about 200 km (124 miles) on a single charge. Mitsubishi Motors and Fuji Heavy Industries are also developing electric cars for the mass market [see previous posts here and here].
According to Green Car Congress, Nissan developed its first electric car in 1947. It developed a two-passenger small electric car - the Hypermini [pictured above] - in 2000, but the model could travel only just more than 100 km on a single charge and never made it to the mass market. It was tested in several US fleets.
Nissan will also reportedly accelerate the expansion of its diesel lineup, and, with the help of Renault, also enhance its development of flex-fuel vehicles.
Electric vehicles has been around for several years now. I think it must have come first than the hybrid cars.
ReplyDeleteThe first electric vehicles were direct conversion from cars fitted with electric motors and a dozen of batteries. That was the first appearance of EV's that eventually lost popularity coz of crude design and the inconvenience of long charging hours.
But with the introduction of fuel cells EV's got a new life and has a promising future to become the main choice in urban transport.
Related Sites:
Alternative Fuels
Automotive World
Hybrid Cars
Future Cars
electric car is good enough, but hybrid car more green for society
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