Nissan Future Electric Vehicle

In the early 1990s, Nissan showed it was a force to be reckoned with in the advanced technology realm. As GM was taking a high-profile with its Impact electric vehicle prototype in the U.S., Nissan was showcasing its FEV (Future Electric Vehicle) in Japan. This was not an anomaly. Over the next several years, Nissan continued its electric vehicle development and ultimately showed its FEVII, a decidedly less sexy but probably more practical electric vehicle prototype. As its program evolved, the FEV series was dropped in favor of other electric and hybrid electric vehicle studies. Still, the design of the initial FEV in particular resonates as we look back at the various automakers' early electric vehicle programs. This article is reprinted just as it ran originally in Green Car Journal's December 1995 issue to share perspective on Nissan's early electric vehicle development efforts.

NISSAN ELECTRIC FEV AND FEVII
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED DECEMBER 1995 The Nissan FEV, which debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in late 1991, was a milestone electric vehicle concept for this automaker. It showed considerable thought as to what an electric vehicle could and should be, from its stylish exterior and handsome interior to an innovative powertrain and quick-charge system that garnered substantial worldwide attention.

As they say, that was then, and this is now. Nissan has now provided a follow-though by introducing its latest electric vehicle iteration, the FEV-II. This model is a bit less sporty than the original but definitely appropriate for the coming electric vehicle market. Somewhat in the vein of Volkswagen's Beetle-like Concept1, the FEV-II is handsome, rounded, and sure to be popular on the auto show circuit, and maybe even the highway.

The four-passenger (2+2) coupe's design is the handiwork of Nissan Design International, located in Southern California. It features a flat floor so batteries can be secreted beneath without infringing upon passenger comfort or space - a nice touch.

Nissan is once again credited with offering advanced thinking in its electric vehicle concepts. The FEV-II uses the advanced lithium-ion batteries this automaker is developing in conjunction with Sony. Top speed of the 3120-pound car is said to be 75 mph, while single-charge driving range is a claimed 125 miles. The EV can be charged from any standard electrical outlet via a detachable charging system.

Nissan is among many automakers who are actively working to develop viable electric vehicles to meet the 1998 ZEV mandate in California and other states. While Green Car editors have not yet road tested Nissan's new FEV-II, behind-the-wheel time has been spent in the automaker's Avenir demonstration EV. Not surprisingly, Green Car testers found it to be quite a capable electric vehicle with good acceleration and handling, indicating a great deal of sophistication in Nissan's EV development program. This electric station wagon also exhibited a high level of comfort, surprising from an electrically retrofitted production vehicle.

The automaker has been field testing 15 Avenir electric vehicles with Kyushu Electric Power Company, a Japanese utility which helped develop the electric variant. The station wagon is reportedly capable of a 50 to 100 mile single-charge driving range with a top speed of 70 mph.