2008 Nissan Denki Cube Concept

Admin الأربعاء أبريل 30, 2008 2:32 pm

2008 Nissan Denki Cube Concept
Nissan Press Release

New
York City is about to get a lesson in what happens when geography meets
geometry – specifically, when the world, which is round, meets the
Nissan Cube, which is essentially square. The occasion is the world
debut of the Nissan Denki (Japanese for "electric") Cube Concept at the
2008 New York International Auto Show.

The lithium-ion
battery-powered Denki Cube electric vehicle concept, which will be on
public display at the Nissan exhibit at Jacob Javits Convention Centre
from March 21 through March 30, was created to draw attention to Nissan
Motor Co., Ltd.'s (NML) global environmental efforts. It also serves as
a preview of Nissan's future small car strategy for the North American
market, which includes plans to sell a redesigned gasoline-powered,
next-generation Cube at Nissan dealers in the United States and Canada
beginning in 2009.

"The Denki Cube Concept is a fun way to
expose American buyers to one of Nissan's most popular home market cars
at a time when fuel economy and packaging efficiency are on a lot of
people's minds," said Al Castignetti, senior vice president, sales and
marketing, Nissan North America, Inc. "Like the production Cube on
which it is based, the Denki Cube Concept is boxy yet charming,
fashionable and functional, and completely tuned in to today's needs
for enjoyable efficiency."

In
creating the Denki Cube Concept, the designers started with a
well-defined canvas, the current-generation Nissan Cube. The iconic
Cube has always been the antithesis of traditional automotive style –
square, minimalist, asymmetrical and humble – yet also warm, relaxing,
practical and undeniably charming. To this solid foundation, the Denki
Cube adds a new EV powertrain and unique exterior and interior
treatments.

The Denki Cube Concept's exterior features fresh
front and rear styling treatments, including a new "electric themed"
front grille design with an AC power charging port, a radical
"lightning" headlight design and new bumpers and turn signal lamps. In
the rear, the signature Cube asymmetrical rear quarter area (with
wraparound glass on one side) has been enhanced by a new bumper with
hidden taillights. The roof sheet metal has been replaced with a full
fixed glass panel that enhances the interior's sense of wide-open
space. The Denki Cube Concept exterior also features new door mirrors
and unique 16-inch wheel covers. The finishing touch is provided by a
special white pearl paint and graphics.

Inside, the Denki Cube
Concept reflects the designers' intention of creating a relaxing,
moving social hub, like a favourite room in an owner's house. Though
the production Cube offers three rows of seating, the Denki Cube
Concept offers only two rows and the wheelbase has been stretched 9.4
inches in order to better accommodate the lithium-ion battery cells.
The newly designed front and second row seats are joined by a revised
instrument panel with an IP-mounted shift button, a special steering
wheel design and new door panel and cargo area trim.

The
biggest transformation from production Cube to Denki Cube Concept is
one that isn't visible – the replacement of the standard 1.3-liter
inline 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor and laminated
lithium-ion batteries located under the floor and seats. The laminated
structure and unique material technology offer more power, energy and
battery stability, as well as compact size and packaging flexibility,
versus conventional cylindrical batteries.

Nissan's compact
lithium-ion battery technology, one of the company's traditional
strengths, provides batteries with twice as much energy compared with a
conventional cylindrical battery of the same type and safer operation
due to the use of chemically stable spine-structured manganese for the
electrode material. In order to better leverage Nissan's lithium-ion
battery capabilities, a new company, Automotive Energy Supply Corp.
(AESC), was jointly established with NEC Corp. and NEC Tokin Corp. –
with the goal of dramatically enhancing future battery performance and
reducing battery costs.

"Nissan first had an electric vehicle in
the road in 1947 and has been field-testing lithium-ion batteries for
more than ten years," said Castignetti. "Our ongoing goal is to
dramatically enhance future battery performance while reducing battery
costs."

Source: Nissan Press Releases

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