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Nissan Delivers Affordable Solutions for Purchase, Lease of All-electric Nissan LEAF?
As low as $25,280 ($32,780 MSRP minus up to $7,500 federal tax credit)
Lease world's first mass-marketed EV for $349 per month
FRANKLIN, Tenn. (March 30, 2010) - Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced U.S. pricing for the 2011 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, which becomes available for purchase or lease at Nissan dealers in select markets in December and nationwide in 2011. Nissan will begin taking consumer reservations for the Nissan LEAF April 20.
Including the $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be fully eligible, the consumer's after-tax net value of the vehicle will be $25,280. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011 all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780, which includes three years of roadside assistance. Additionally, there is an array of state and local incentives that may further defray the costs and increase the benefits of owning and charging a Nissan LEAF - such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.
As a result of aggressive pricing and the availability of the $7,500 federal tax credit whose benefit is immediately included, Nissan will be able to offer a monthly lease payment beginning at $349, not including state or local incentives, which could further reduce the net cost of the Nissan LEAF.
"Imagine the possibility of never needing to go to a gas station again. Or of paying less than $3 for 100 miles behind the wheel. Or of creating zero emissions while driving," said Brian Carolin, senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, NNA. "Nissan leads the industry by offering the first affordable, zero-emission vehicle for the mass market. Nissan LEAF truly is in a class by itself."
The vehicle at the standard SV trim level is well-equipped with a variety of standard features, including an advanced navigation system and Internet/smart phone connectivity to the vehicle, including pre-heat/pre-cool and charging control. Nissan LEAF is equipped with energy-efficient LED headlights and makes extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials, such as seat fabric, instrument panel materials, and front- and rear-bumper fascias. Other standard amenities include Bluetooth connectivity; Intelligent-key with push button start; Sirius/XM satellite radio capabilities and roadside assistance. Safety features include vehicle dynamic control (stability control), traction control and six airbags. The SL trim level, available for an additional $940 (MSRP), adds features including rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights.
Reservations & Purchase
In order to ensure a one-stop-shop customer experience, Nissan is carefully managing the purchase process from the first step, when consumers sign up on NissanUSA.com, until the customer takes the Nissan LEAF home and plugs it into a personal charging dock.
- Nissan begins accepting reservations on April 20 first from people who have signed up on NissanUSA.com, and, after a brief introductory period, to all interested consumers.
- Consumers will be required to pay a $99 reservation fee, which is fully refundable.
- Reserving a Nissan LEAF ensures consumers a place in line when Nissan begins taking firm orders in August, as well as access to special, upcoming Nissan LEAF events.
- Rollout to select markets begins in December, with nationwide availability in 2011.
Charging Equipment
In tandem with the purchase process, Nissan will offer personal charging docks, which operate on a 220-volt supply, as well as their installation. Nissan is providing these home-charging stations, which will be built and installed by AeroVironment, as part of a one-stop-shop process that includes a home assessment.
- The average cost for the charging dock plus installation will be $2,200.
- Charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50 percent federal tax credit up to $2,000.
- Using current national electricity averages, Nissan LEAF will cost less than $3 to "fill up."
- Nissan LEAF also will be the sole vehicle available as part of The EV Project, which is led by EV infrastructure provider eTec, a division of ECOtality, and will provide free home-charging stations and installation for up to 4,700 Nissan LEAF owners in those markets.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.NissanUsa.com.
DAILY COMMUTE IN YOUR LEAF
WEEK-END ADVENTURE IN YOUR LEAF
WEEK-END ADVENTURE IN YOUR LEAF
02.11.2010 , NEW YORK
NISSAN ANNOUNCES NISSAN LEAF PURCHASE PROCESS; GIVES FIRST GLIMPSE AT MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour Culminates in New York
The Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour culminated today with an appearance in New York City. The three-month tour, which made 63 stops in 24 cities, offered the opportunity for interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students to learn more about the Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving.
The tour helped pave the way for the 2010 introduction of Nissan LEAF, the world's first all-electric, zero-emission car designed for the mass market, and leads up to the start of the vehicle-purchase process. The Nissan LEAF will be available to consumers via lease or sale, in a single transaction that includes the battery. Steps to acquiring a Nissan LEAF are:
- REGISTER: Interested people can
register for more information about the Nissan LEAF on www.NissanUSA.com. To date, close to
50,000 people have registered on the website. Registrants will be given first
priority to reserve a Nissan LEAF.
- RESERVE: The reservation process will
begin in April, shortly after the announcement of the price of the Nissan LEAF.
Upon paying a fully refundable $100 reservation fee, registrants will be among
the first in line able to order a Nissan LEAF.
- ORDER: Nissan will begin taking firm
orders in August, for deliveries when sales begin in the driver's particular
market.
- EARLY DELIVERIES: Rollout begins in
select markets in December 2010, with vehicles available in all major launch
markets quickly thereafter.
Coinciding with this next phase of the Nissan LEAF launch is the debut of Nissan's initial global marketing campaign, which is called "The New Car." A first look at the campaign -- which illustrates Nissan's passion about the potential for zero-emission mobility and a better, cleaner world -- was shown in New York as part of the culmination of the Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour.
The Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour covered 10,000 miles in the United States and Canada, providing the first opportunity for more than 100,000 people to see and learn about the Nissan LEAF first hand.
"There was a groundswell of grassroots support from coast to coast," said Tavares. "Everywhere we went, people recognized a new form of mobility -- a turning point -- and they wanted to be a part of it. The response was spontaneous and diverse. We were joined by mayors and government officials, CEOs, utility partners, car enthusiasts, students, dealers, media, environmentalists, Twitter users and lots of families."
Tour Highlights:
- Diverse tour stops, stretching from Stanford University to the Kennedy Space
Center. Other stops included: Phoenix on New Year's Eve, in conjunction with the
Fiesta Bowl; Qwest Field in Seattle; the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry
in Portland; and a charging-station-equipped McDonald's in Cary, N.C. The tour
also stopped at Nissan Americas in Franklin, Tenn; the Smyrna, Tenn.,
manufacturing facility where the Nissan LEAF will be built starting in 2012; and
Nissan Design Americas in San Diego. New York area stops include Madison Square
Garden (Feb. 10), and upcoming public displays at the Time Warner Center (Feb.
12) and the Liberty Science Center (Feb. 13).
- Due to the high level of interest, Atlanta and Boston were added to the
original tour schedule, bringing total cities to 24.
- Nearly 50,000 people have registered to receive information and learn more
about the Nissan LEAF on www.NissanUSA.com as a result of the tour.
Signing up online is the first step in the reservation and purchase process.
- Already, the Nissan LEAF has received more than 10 media and environmental
awards, including the Green Car Vision Award, presented at the Washington Auto
Show by Green Car Journal.
- The announcement of the closing of Nissan's loan with the U.S. Department of
Energy. The $1.4 billion loan will fund the modification of Nissan's Smyrna,
Tenn., manufacturing plant to produce the Nissan LEAF and batteries to power it.
Groundbreaking for the new battery plant will take place in May.
- The announcement of a joint commitment with Hertz, the world's largest
general market rental brand, to bring zero-emission mobility car rental to the
United States and Europe in 2011. Hertz is developing a rollout of the Nissan
LEAF at select rental sites in both major markets.
- Nissan announced that AeroVironment will supply and install home charging
stations for the Nissan LEAF, creating a one-stop shop for the Nissan LEAF and
its charging equipment.
- The tour reached all markets that are part of The EV Project, the world's
largest EV infrastructure deployment ever undertaken. The EV Project, funded by
a $98 million grant from the Department of Energy and led by EV infrastructure
provider eTec, a division of Ecotality, will provide an unprecedented number
(6,510) of public charging stations across the 5 participating markets and will
provide home charging stations for up to 4700 Nissan Leafs sold in those
markets. The public stations will include both Level 2 (240V) and Level 3 DC
fast chargers. The EV Project markets are Seattle, Oregon, Tennessee (Knoxville,
Nashville and Chattanooga), Phoenix/Tucson, Ariz., and San Diego.
- The tour also served as the backdrop to announce newly established
partnerships with Reliant Energy of Houston; the City of Orlando and the Orlando
Utilities Commission; the City of Houston; and the State of Massachusetts. These
agreements, like three dozen others globally, are designed to promote the
development of an electric-vehicle charging network and policies to support the
widespread adoption of electric cars.
- Existing partnerships furthered progress, taking steps like securing letters
of intent for vehicle fleet purchases and the formation of working groups and
task forces to foster the development of the electric-vehicle infrastructure,
such as Oregon's Governor's Alternative Fuel Vehicle Infrastructure Working
Group. In North America, Nissan has spearheaded a holistic approach to
zero-emission mobility by working with states, municipalities, utility companies
and other partners, to prepare markets and infrastructure. Nissan has formed 18
partnerships in the United States, in areas including State of Tennessee, the
State of Oregon, Sonoma County, San Diego and San Francisco in California,
Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Washington D.C., Seattle, with the City of Orlando
and Orlando Utilities Commission, with Progress Energy in Raleigh, N.C., with
the City of Houston and Houston-based Reliant Energy, with the State of
Massachusetts. Nissan also has formed partnerships with Mexico City and
Vancouver, Canada.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can be found at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car.
01.11.2010
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA SELECTS AEROVIRONMENT TO INSTALL HOME-CHARGING STATIONS FOR NISSAN LEAF
Agreement part of one-stop shop experience for EV purchase process
Detroit, Mich. - 
Nissan North America (NNA) today announced its selection of
AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV) (AV) to supply electric vehicle
home-charging stations and installation services supporting the
introduction of the zero-emission, all-electric Nissan LEAF later this
year.
The Nissan LEAF five-passenger electric car will be powered by an
advanced, lithium-ion battery pack that will provide a drive range of
100 miles on a full charge, as measured by the LA4 test cycle. AV's
Nissan-branded charging stations will be available at the sale of each
Nissan LEAF as part of the vehicle's total driving system. The
home-charging stations are designed to provide a safe and reliable
charge when installed with a connection to a 220-volt line. It will
take eight hours to fully charge the Nissan LEAF from a fully
discharged state.
Home charging will represent a highly convenient charging method for
the Nissan LEAF customer. AV's nationwide network of qualified,
licensed electricians will offer pre-installation home assessment
services prior to vehicle delivery, and will install the charging
stations.
"Nissan is committed to bringing zero-emission mobility to the United
States, and around the world," said Carlos Tavares, Chairman, Nissan
Americas. "A part of that commitment is delivering a one-stop shop
experience for the new car owner, which is why we chose AeroVironment.
As a result of our selection, drivers of the Nissan LEAF will be able
to charge their vehicles safely overnight at their own homes."
"By introducing a practical electric passenger and fleet vehicle,
Nissan is moving boldly to link driving with zero emissions and energy
independence," said Tim Conver, AV's chairman and chief executive
officer. "Our selection as Nissan's preferred charging equipment and
service provider, for what we believe will be the largest adoption of
battery electric cars in history, represents a great opportunity to
apply our nationwide EV charging infrastructure solutions to the
successful introduction of the Nissan LEAF. We are committed to making
those who purchase a Nissan LEAF and our universal home charging system
successful in the use of clean, electric vehicles."
Nissan announced this supply agreement at the North American
International Auto Show, where the Nissan LEAF was being displayed for
international media Jan. 11-12. Nissan, along with its alliance partner
Renault, is the only automaker committed to making all-electric
vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale. The Nissan
LEAF will go on sale in select markets in the United States in December.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive design,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the
environment under the Nissan Green Program 2010, whose key priorities
are reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing
recycling. More information on the Nissan LEAF and zero emissions can
be found at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car.
About AeroVironment (AV)
- Building on a history of technological innovation, AV designs, develops, produces, and supports an advanced portfolio of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and efficient electric energy systems. Agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense and allied military services use the company's battery-powered, hand-launched UAS to provide situational awareness to tactical operating units through real-time, airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition. AV's clean transportation solutions include power cycling and test systems and industrial electric vehicle charging systems for commercial and institutional customers, as well as EV home chargers and EV fast chargers for consumers. More information about AV is available at www.avinc.com.
NISSAN UNVEILS "LEAF" - THE WORLD'S FIRST ELECTRIC CAR DESIGNED FOR AFFORDABILITY AND REAL-WORLD REQUIREMENTS
Event ushers in a new era for Nissan and a new era for mobility
YOKOHAMA -
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today unveiled Nissan LEAF, the world's first affordable, zero-emission car. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered chassis, Nissan LEAF is a medium-size hatchback that comfortably seats five adults and has a range of more than 160km (100 miles) to satisfy real-world consumer requirements.NISSAN LEAF
Slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe, Nissan LEAF ushers in a new era of mobility - the zero-emission era. The car is the embodiment of Nissan's radical, transformative vision for the future and the culmination of decades of investment and research.
"Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment - one in which all Nissan employees can take great pride," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality - the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero - not simply reduced - emissions. It's the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey - for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry."
Key characteristics of the LEAF include:
- Zero-emission power train and platform
- Affordable pricing
- Distinctive design
- Real-world range autonomy - 160km (100 miles)
- Connected Mobility: Advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system
The "LEAF" name is a significant statement about the car itself. Just as leaves purify the air in nature, so Nissan LEAF purifies mobility by taking emissions out of the driving experience. Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales in late 2010; however, the company expects the car to be competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle. Additionally, Nissan LEAF is expected to qualify for an array of significant local, regional and national tax breaks and incentives in markets around the world. As an added benefit, because the vehicle has less mechanical complexity than a traditional gasoline-powered car, Nissan LEAF is designed to be friendly to the wallet as well as to the environment.
ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY
Nissan LEAF is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. This ensures a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles.
Unlike internal-combustion engine (ICE) equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF's power train has no tail pipe, and thus no emission of CO2 or other greenhouse gases. A combination of Nissan LEAF's regenerative braking system and innovative lithium-ion battery packs enables the car to deliver a driving range of more than 160km (100 miles) on one full charge*. (*US LA4 mode)
Extensive consumer research demonstrates that this range satisfies the daily driving requirements of more than 70% of the world's consumers who drive cars.
And, Nissan's approach makes charging easy and convenient. Nissan LEAF can be charged up to 80% of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a quick charger. Charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours - ample time to enable an overnight refresh for consumer and car alike.
REAL-WORLD CAR
The engineers and designers behind Nissan LEAF worked to create a competitively priced real-world car that would enable Nissan to lead mobility into the zero-emission era. To ensure comfort, spaciousness and cargo capacity, Nissan LEAF employs a completely new chassis and body layout.
"Our car had to be the world's first, medium-size, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that's what we've created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility," said Masato INOUE, Product Chief Designer.
DISTINCTIVE DESIGN
Even the smallest details can yield tremendous effect.
Nissan LEAF's frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design that announces, "This car is special." But the headlights do more than make a statement. They are also designed to cleverly split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag. And, the headlights provide yet one more benefit in that they consume about 50 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps, which helps Nissan LEAF to achieve its world-class range autonomy.
Through bright trim colors inside, Nissan LEAF creates a pleasing and stylish cabin environment. An environmentally friendly "blue earth" color theme originates from the Aqua Globe body color of Nissan LEAF's introductory model. This theme is carried into the interior through blue dashboard highlights and instrument illumination.
CONNECTED MOBILITY IT SYSTEM
Nissan LEAF employs an exclusive advanced IT system. Connected to a global data center, the system can provide support, information, and entertainment for drivers 24 hours a day.
The dash-mounted monitor displays Nissan LEAF's remaining power - or "reachable area" - in addition to showing a selection of nearby charging stations.
Another state-of-the-art feature is the ability to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions - even when Nissan LEAF is powered down. An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.
"The IT system is a critical advantage," says Tooru ABE, Chief Product Specialist. "We wanted this vehicle to be a partner for the driver and an enhancement for the passengers. We also wanted this vehicle to help create a zero-emission community, and these IT features will help make that possible."
HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ZERO-EMISSION MOBILITY AND ECO-FRIENDLY INNOVATION
Nissan LEAF is a critical first step in establishing the era of zero-emission mobility; however, Nissan recognizes that internal-combustion engine (ICE) technologies will play a vital role in global transportation for decades to come. Because of this, Nissan is implementing its zero-emission vision through a holistic approach, which provides consumers a comprehensive range of eco-friendly technologies from which to choose.
For some consumers, Nissan LEAF will be the perfect match, and the only car they will ever need. For others, Nissan LEAF will be a logical addition to the family fleet - the optimal choice for the daily commute, for example.
While zero-emission is the ultimate goal, the company is committed to ongoing innovation in eco-friendly technologies that increase efficiency and reduce emissions. As a result, Nissan offers a comprehensive suite of automotive technologies, including CVT, Idle Stop, HEV, Clean Diesel, and ongoing research and investment in FCV technology.
WORLDWIDE PARTNERS
Zero-emission mobility programs under the banner of the Renault-Nissan Alliance include partnerships with countries such as the UK and Portugal, local governments in the Japan and the USA, and other sectors, for a total of nearly 30 partnerships worldwide.
In these partnerships major efforts focus on three areas:
- Development of a comprehensive charging infrastructure through public and private investment,
- Incentives and subsidies from local, regional, and national governments, and
- Public education on the individual and societal benefits of zero-emissions mobility.
ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLE PRODUCTION
Nissan LEAF is the first in the company's forthcoming line of EVs and is a major milestone in the realization of the Renault-Nissan Alliance's vision for zero-emission mobility. The first of Nissan's EV's will be manufactured at Oppama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for Smyrna, Tennessee, USA. Meanwhile, lithium-ion batteries are being produced in Zama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for the USA, the UK and Portugal, and other sites for investment are under study around the world.
ABOUT NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. is a global automotive company with vehicle sales of 3.411 million in 2008. Nissan is present in all major auto markets worldwide, selling a comprehensive range of cars, pickup trucks, SUVs, and light commerical vehicles.
NISSAN BLUE CITIZENSHIP
Nissan is committed to making a better world through its commitment to corporate social responsibility. This includes programs that focus on technological innovations that focus on people and care for the planet. Our vision for zero-emission mobility is an outgrowth of our CSR approach, which we call Blue Citizenship. Together, we are working with our Alliance partner, Renault, to make a better world through zero-emission mobility
By HANS GREIMEL, AUTOMOTIVE NEWS
Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn is spending big money to make electric vehicles in high volumes--and soon.
On Aug. 2, Ghosn will unveil the first of three electric models in three vehicle segments that he plans to sell by 2013. The vehicles will be made in the United States, Japan and Europe. "We have a different strategy from other car manufacturers," Ghosn says. "We are the only ones investing for mass marketing, which is a risk, yes. But we think it is a bet in the right direction."
That bet takes shape at a new lithium ion battery plant and at an electric-vehicle assembly line that Nissan will build at its Smyrna, Tenn., manufacturing complex. A $1.6 billion low-interest loan from the U.S. government will cover some of the costs. Analysts question the payoff. Nissan is not alone in going electric.
-- In June, Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., maker of Subaru cars, began leasing electric cars in Japan. Mitsubishi Motors Corp. follows later this month.
-- Toyota Motor Corp. will sell a plug-in Toyota Prius after 2010, taking on the Chevrolet Volt, which goes on sale in November 2010.
-- BMW AG's Mini brand is testing a plug-in model in the United States.
-- Tesla Motors Inc., owned 10 percent by Daimler AG, received a $465 million government loan to help bring its $57,400 Model S electric sedan to market. 'Go for mass market' But rivals see initial volume in the hundreds or thousands. Ghosn wants hundreds of thousands. "If you go for EV, you should go for mass market,"he says.
Analysts warn of hype. Battery-powered cars may be the wave of the future, but costs are high; the recharging infrastructure isn't there, and hefty government subsidies are needed to make electric vehicles competitive.
Nissan sees the technology as its best chance to eclipse Toyota and Honda Motor Co., which beat Nissan in introducing hybrid vehicles. "This is an opportunity to go into a whole new technology and own that space," says Andy Palmer, head of Nissan's electric-vehicle program. "Hybrid vehicles compete with the internal combustion engine. But EVs are a segment all their own." Nissan's consumer research shows that "there are definitely more than 100,000 in the United States who want" their next car to be an electric, Palmer says.
Dealers excited "We can't get them soon enough," says Bill Newton, owner of Newton Nissan in Gallatin, Tenn. "Customers have already been asking about the cars since the news broke about Nissan's plans to build the car here in Tennessee."
In California, Nissan of Elk Grove owner John Driebe thinks Nissan has identified a powerful new market segment. "A lot of Americans really want to stop using imported oil," he says. "We're excited about being able to market a car that will never use a drop of gasoline." Driebe's market near Sacramento is home to about 80,000 California state employees, many of whom are worried about the state's current budget crisis. Driebe sees commuting state employees as an ideal demographic group for the car. "By the time the electric car comes on line in 2012, the economy in California will be in a better place," says Driebe, the 2006 chairman of the Nissan Dealer Advisory Board. "Nissan is really committing to this idea, and I think they're going to be proven right."
The Tennessee factories will have capacity for 150,000 vehicles and 200,000 battery packs a year. Production begins in late 2012. Nissan also will build electric vehicles at its Oppama assembly plant south of Tokyo, starting next fall with a capacity of 50,000. It also plans an electric-vehicle plant for Europe and is studying a plant for China.
The first Japan-built car goes on sale in the United States and Japan next year to fleet customers such as corporations and local governments. It will be a four-door hatchback seating five people -- about the size of the Nissan Cube or Versa--with a range of 100 miles per charge. Pricing isn't set.
Oil vs. electrons Batteries are expensive. But Ghosn thinks rising oil prices will tilt the economics in favor of electrons. If crude oil rises above $80 a barrel, Nissan's electric vehicles will be cheaper to own and operate than gasoline-powered cars, he says. Crude trades for around $70 a barrel today. Analysts say that will rise as the global economy recovers. Ghosn aims for Nissan's electric cars, minus the battery, to cost as much as a standard car. Consumers will lease the battery at a cost that, including charging, will match what they would have paid for gasoline. Chris Richter, an analyst with CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets, says, "If they can make good on Ghosn's promise of a price comparable to a normal car, I think people will lap these up."
Nissan hasn't said how much it is spending on its electric ambitions. The first of the three models costs as much to develop as three normal cars, a person familiar with the situation says. The total investment in battery and car assembly at Smyrna is expected to exceed Nissan's $1.6 billion loan from Washington, he says.
The machinery needed to make 50,000 batteries a year costs more than $300 million, he said. Add in other costs, and the price tag just for battery plants in the United States, Japan and Europe -- which together will make more than 300,000 battery packs a year -- could total about $1.5 billion.
Analysts ask whether Nissan's bid to take an early lead in electrics is worth the cost. Kurt Sanger, an auto analyst with Deutsche Securities Inc., says, "If the competition just sits back to see if it works and then uses its brand credibility to enter the market, there's no need to be first." But Ghosn sees his bet as positioning Nissan for the future, not just beating rivals to market with a single model. "It's a complete new lineup. Big cars, small cars, vans, light commercial vehicles, entry-level cars," Ghosn says. "It's a complete new way of looking at our industry."
AutoWeek | Updated: 07/06/09, 8:49 am et
Driving Nissan's Electric Future
April 28, 2009
By Rusty Blackwell
Photography by Rusty Blackwell
Nissan formally announced on August 6, 2008, that it will begin selling two all-new alternative-fuel cars - a front-wheel-drive full-electric vehicle and a V-6-powered, rear-wheel-drive hybrid - sometime in the 2010 fiscal year.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV)
The Japanese automaker will launch up to a few thousand electric vehicles (EV) for fleet use in Japan and the United States in 2010, with full-fledged consumer production coming online in 2012. A body for the car hasn't yet been revealed, but Nissan told us at a preview event at the GRANDRIVE Proving Ground in Opama, Japan, that its initial EV will look like no other existing Nissan product (nor will it look like a Toyota Prius or a Honda Insight). A full lineup of related EVs of differing body styles will follow.
Nissan senior vice president Minoru Shinohara promises that the EV will be "very attractive in performance" and not boring. Based on our brief drive of EV-01, a Nissan Cube prototype mule with the EV powertrain, we certainly believe him. From behind the wheel, EV-01 was highly impressive, with lots of smooth torque readily available for standing starts, passing maneuvers, and steady cruising. The EV's brakes are regenerative - although not to the extent of a conventional hybrid's - but they felt relatively normal, and the overall driving experience felt much more Real Car than Overgrown Golf Cart. In fact, eliminating tire and wind noise likely will be among the biggest hurdles for the production car, given that the 107-hp (80-kW) motor/inverter powertrain is nearly silent. According to Kazuhiro Doi, a general manager in Nissan's technology department, the production EV will have a range of about 100 miles, which is respectable but remains less than half the claimed range of the exotic Tesla Roadster (220 miles). Still, Nissan's EV surely will be much more affordable and attainable, making it a closer competitor to the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid also due in 2010. Nissan hasn't marketed a completely electric car since the tres-cool, J-cool Hyper Mini, which was built from 2000-2003.
HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE (HEV)
It looks like a normal Infiniti G35 sedan, but a hybrid powertrain like no other hides beneath the surface of the prototype that we drove in Japan. Nissan's hybrid system features two clutches sandwiching a single hybrid motor. This arrangement precludes the need for any torque converters and permits multiple EV gears, which means that the car should be able to maintain speeds in excess of 60 mph without relying upon the gasoline engine.
Nissan claims that its hybrid system will permit Versa-like economy (at least 27 mpg combined) with performance superior to that of the G35 sport sedan. Like the EV, the first HEVs will reach fleet customers in 2010, while everyday Joes can expect theirs in 2012. Also like the EV, the hybrid will use Nissan's own lithium-ion battery technology (which the company has been researching since 1992), similar to what's used in cell-phone and laptop-computer batteries - a distinct difference from the nickel-metal-hydride units used in today's production hybrids. The Nissan batteries are shaped into thin rectangles (as opposed to the long cylinders of today's more familiar hybrids), which allows for improved cooling and more flexible packaging options. (The batteries in the EV, for instance, will likely be layered within the vehicle's floor.)
On the road, the hybrid system is, indeed, well-integrated, as it seamlessly switches among hybrid-assist modes. The car's brakes definitely need some more work, though; they were overly sensitive and applied inconsistent levels of pressure. Again, Nissan personnel assured us that the brakes would be properly sorted prior to the vehicle's production launch.
Nissan wouldn't say for sure, but we're reasonably confident that the HEV will be realized in the form of a distinct model. This project marks Nissan's first internally developed hybrid powertrain, since the existing Altima Hybrid uses proprietary Toyota technology.
Nissan Shows New Hybrid, EV Systems and More at Advanced Tech Fest
Nissan packaged its new electric vehicle ssytem in a Cube compact van for testing, but is planning a more conventional sedan for production.
By John O'Dell, Senior Editor
OPPAMA, Japan -- Much of the rest of the auto industry seems to be slowing down, but Nissan Motor Co., hoping to ride the green wave to growth in the U.S. and globally, is pumping billions into environmental initiatives that executives say could propel the company to the top tier of automakers in a just a few years.
In pursuit of that goal, Carlos Ghosn, Nissan's charismatic chief, already has committed the company to zero-emissions leadership by 2012.
Nissan this year has announced plans for a rear-wheel-drive hybrid and a battery-powered electric car by 2010; has formed a partnership with electronics giant NEC to develop a new generation of powerful lithium-ion batteries for hybrids and EVs; is helping develop a rapid charging system for electric cars that could recharge battery packs in as little as 10 minutes; and continues development work to commercialize hydrogen fuel cells for automotive use.
It showed off many of those technologies for the first time in a seminar this week at its research and development facilities in this port city southwest of Toyko.
The company isn't alone. As fuel prices have soared globally and international concerns about energy independence grows, most automakers have begun or stepped up efforts to bring alternative fuel and alternative power plant cars and trucks to market.
But Nissan is a standout for its push for battery EVs and its determination to make the technology -- promising in the late 1990s but long-since abandoned by most -- viable once again.
On Wednesday (Tuesday night in the U.S.) Nissan let a group of journalists try out prototypes of its 2010 EV and hybrid powertrains and showed us the technology behind the advanced lithium-ion batteries that will make them go.
Nissan also wants to be a leader in providing the batteries and the battery-charging infrastructure that will make EVs work, he said.
While others champion the gas-electric hybrid and the plug-in hybrid with limited all-electric range, Nissan's faith in the all-electric vehicle is based on its belief that people all over the world are moving out of suburbia and back into cities as they try to minimize commutes and economize on fuel.
As urban areas grow in population density and driving distances decline, Shinohara said, the electric vehicle becomes a viable alternative to gasoline and diesel cars and truck. And as the world runs out of crude oil, electric vehicles become the leading alternative.
We like EVs, always have -- their power, the technical elegance of their drive systems, their quiet and emissions-free operation, their power, the relatively cheap operating costs, their low maintenance, and, did we mention, their power.
The system Nissan showed off this week did nothing to change our minds.
Nissan's 4th-generation EV was packaged for our test drive in a Japanese-market Nissan Cube but destined for a four-door sedan that won't look like anything in the present Nissan lineup.
Even hauling the tall, boxy Cube around, it provided plenty of zip.
Nissan wouldn't provide 0-60 acceleration times, but on a short test loop around the carmaker's Oppama track, it felt like the high 7-seconds. It likely will be quicker in final production form.
Range is still a long way from what we expect from a gasoline fueled vehicle, but as configured it comes it at a respectable-for-an-EV 100 miles between charges.
Adding a few more cells to each of the individual packs would improve the total somewhat, although cost and weight might rule that out in an initial production model.
The system is packaged for front-wheel drive, using a new 80-kilowatt motor and power inverter to propel them.
Nano Tech is Key
A 190-pound bundle of three lithium-ion battery packs stores and supplies the juice.
The batteries (Nissan has been developing lithium-ion batteries since the early 1990s and introduced the world's first in an electric vehicle in 1996) use a new nano-technology developed by Nissan and partner NEC in their Automotive Energy Supply Corp. joint venture.
The batteries (right) -- smaller and lighter than previous lithium-ion cells the carmaker has used -- are made of flat, laminated electrodes rather than cylindrical cells with the electrodes rolled up inside like a jelly roll.
The pancake shape of each cell makes it easy to stack them and facilitates cooling, cutting down on the cost of managing the heat buildup that can cause problems with lithium-ion batteries.
The positive electrode, or cathode, is manganese; the negative, or anode, is carbon graphite.
Nissan's "nano-dispersal" technology keeps the super-small (nano-sized) electrode materials from clumping up, reducing internal resistance which in turn boosts power output.
Nissan claims the new batteries provide 50 percent more power -- 90 kilowatts -- than the lithium-ion batteries used in the Nissan Altra EV produced and used for research purposes in the U.S. and Japan from 1998 to 2003.
Energy density, which helps account for the travel range a battery pack can provide between charges, is double that of the previous generation pack used in the Hypermini EV prototype from 1999-2001.
The rectangular battery packs are installed under the Cube's floor and don't interfere with cargo or passenger space -- a feature Nissan presumably will design in to the production EV it plans to launch in the U.S in 2010.
The batteries can be recharged in 10 minutes using existing fast-charging technology, the company said.
A New Hybrid
New-Hybrid.jpgNissan uses a similar battery, but with different chemistry, for the gas-electric hybrid it is developing for its rear-wheel-drive platform and has slated for introduction late next year or early 2010 in its upscale Infiniti lineup.
Set up for a hybrid, the battery pack can double the power of previous packs -- providing more powerful acceleration and recapturing energy more efficiently during regenerative braking.
While Nissan previously leased Toyota's parallel hybrid technology for its Altima hybrid, the rear-wheel-drive hybrid system was designed and developed in-house, Shinohara said.
Click Here to view hybrid system
It is a parallel system, too -- using an electric motor to augment a gas engine and designed so that either power plant also can operate alone.
Nissan's wrinkle is that it mates the electric motor to a 3.5-liter V6 -- that, at least, is what was in the prototype G35 sedan (above) that we drove -- via a pair of clutches. One is mounted between the gas engine and the electric motor, the other after the electric motor at the tail end of a seven-speed automatic transmission.
The arrangement lets the clutches replace the automatic's power-wasting torque converter, improving engine responsiveness and helping boost fuel efficiency. Nissan wouldn't provide any solid numbers, but said the powerful V6 would deliver "compact car" gas mileage.
When the car is accelerating, both the gas and electric motors are operating and both clutches are engaged. In low-speed "urban" driving (or in traffic jams), the electric motor does all the work and the front clutch disengages because the gas engine is shut down and offers no power to be processed.
At higher city speeds, the electric motor shuts down and the gas engine provides all the power. Both clutches are activated, however, with the rear clutch enabling power from the spinning electric motor to be channeled back into the battery pack to help recharge it.
In the hybrid's fourth mode, regeneration, the gas engine and front clutch shut down, and power generated by braking the rear wheels travels through the rear clutch and electric motor to the battery pack.
Fuel Cell
Beyond battery electrics, or perhaps along side them one day, is the fuel-cell electric car, which uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce the electrons it needs to operate.
Nissan has been developing fuel cells for more than a decade and says the latest version (right) is 40 percent more powerful as the previous generation cell but also is 35 percent cheaper and 25 percent smaller.
The price-cutting came largely from a new process that enabled the company to cut the use of expensive platinum catalyst material by half.
Improved power density comes from a new cell design that replaces thick carbon separators with thin metal ones. The separators break down the hydrogen, oxygen and water that combine to launch the chemical reaction that pulls electrons from the hydrogen.
Nissan says it intends to have a test fleet of vehicles using the new fuel cells on the road in the U.S. and Japan by 2010.
Gas Engines Too
Nissan isn't abandoning the gasoline engine, although it has set a goal of reducing CO2 from internal combustion engines 30 percent from present levels by 2015.
It intends to do that with a technology several other automakers, notably Daimler and General Motors Corp., also are working on -- the homogenous charge compression ignition, or HCCI, engine.
HCCI uses the same type of high-pressure direct injection that diesels use to vaporize the gasoline in a powerful explosion deep within each engine cylinder.
Using the heat from compression rather than a spark plug to ignite the air-fuel mixture results in cooler combustion, which creates less smog-causing oxygen nitrates (NOx).
It also uses the fuel far more efficiently than does a typical spark-fired, top-of -cylinder gas engine, resulting in a big improvement in fuel economy.
HCCI developers say the engine provides the best of both gas and diesel engines, with diesel's fuel economy and high torque and gasoline's power.
It's a long list and most of the technologies still need a lot of work -- the switchover between the gas and electric powertrains in the rear-wheel drive hybrid, for instance, was rough as a potholed street in downtown Los Angeles.
But Nissan is committed to working the bugs out and launching its green vehicles and powertrains as quickly as possible, Shinohara said.
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John O'Dell August 6, 2008, 11:27 AM
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