Nissan new electric vehicle signup page hints at home charging set-up
Nissan's EV sign-up page - Click above to enlarge
Nissan has been building up anticipation for it's new all-electric sedan over the past few months as it goes around the world setting up partnerships to promote electric vehicles. To make sure the word about the new car gets out in a big way on August 1 (in Japan, Aug. 2 here in the States), Nissan has set up a page that calls the EV "one of the most exciting programs we've ever undertaken" and collects email addresses from people interested in learning more about the car. While we were adding our names, we also took their survey and discovered the following question:
In what type of residence do you live? Why do we need to know this? When you buy an electric car, you'll also have the option of buying charging equipment for your residence. It's helpful for us to know the different types of situations we may need to accommodate.)Granted, that doesn't explicitly say that Nissan will provide the charging equipment when the car goes on sale in 2011 or so, but it's a pretty good hint, don't ya think? Thanks to lne937s for the tip!
Gallery: Nissan EV
[Source: Nissan]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
alexacoon 7:21PM (7/23/2009)
It wasn't made too clear in calling it an electric "sedan" if this is going to be the vehicle pictured or not. While its a little overkill I could certainly make use such a vehicle, if its going to be a traditional sedan my being single makes a rear seat you cant fold up wasted space. Kind of pointless to have to carry everything up on roof racks when I can stuff an astounding amount of stuff in tha back of a focus hatch now.
I am hoping Nissan does make the vehicle pictured as it should prove usefull for the maximum amount of people and surely help its sales.
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Nick P. 7:39PM (7/23/2009)
No. What most of us want is a regular sedan for everyday use. Not a sport car, not a truck, not a tiny coffin on wheels. A sedan. Then, once it's a success, they can build whatever niche vehicle they want.
If they use that eBox design, it will be a flop.
Chris M 8:30PM (7/23/2009)
The vehicle pictured is a "mule" prototype, one of their existing models refitted with the planned EV motor and batteries. It is used for testing and demos, but Nissan has made it clear that their planned EV will use a different body design.
As to whether it will fit your needs, why don't you wait and see how it is designed first? It might turn out to be roomier than you were expecting. Remember, a hatchback sedan design can have a surprising amount of space.
Nick P. 9:02PM (7/23/2009)
Chris,
I didn't know Nissan had given some clue about the final design. Thanks. My only point is that there no reason to have a "far out" design and risk alienating car buyers. We really need them to succeed.
Sebastian 1:42AM (7/24/2009)
Chris is right. The EV-02 is just a powertrain prototype. We'll have the full story on the new sedan EV in, what, a week?
Joe Bonaparte 7:37PM (7/23/2009)
It's a race between me and nissan.
I'll announce my progress now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMuLdZSbnms
Joe Bonaparte
http://www.evalbum.com/2618
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dgh853 7:52PM (7/23/2009)
Given the partnership between Nissan and Better Place, I'd suspect that Better Place will also offer suitable charge points in people's homes (in Israel, Denmark, Australia etc).
Shai Agassi was in Sydney yesterday and mentioned Better Place will be making an announcement on a vehicle that will suit their infrastructure in the next 2 months (I think) - maybe this is the same or similar vehicle Nissan will announce on August 1?
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Hans Wurst 11:47PM (7/23/2009)
a battery that's re-usable? Wow, how innovative!
Re: morning commute: what about the evening commute, I have to take the bus home? 8oP
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Stew 9:09PM (7/23/2009)
I signed up, count me in! The first to market with an affordable EV that can seat 4, hit 60 mph and go a real-life 100 miles on a charge gets my money!
I keep saving up, eventually someone has to come out with one. There is no brand loyalty here, first to market wins!
Stew
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sac 1:03AM (7/24/2009)
I support Nissan 100% but let's not forget that Toyota produced the RAV4 EV starting in 1997 and it had a 'real world' range of between 80 and 120 miles, according to both owners, AND the EPA. I've never owned one but I know someone who does (a 2002 with about 60k miles). They claim they can easily get 100 miles but rarely do because they so rarely drive that far in a single day. They purchased the car as a second vehicle but now it is the only one they drive on a regular basis. The EV1 was an even more innovative car, but in my opinion not as practical as the RAV4 EV, which is a really sweet little SUV, and very practical.
Toyota only built 1500 or so over 6 years so they never really had the economies of scale for the drivetrain. The battery tech was also less advanced and they eventually lost the right to produce the NiMH batteries in the size needed after Cobasys was formed. I'm sure they lost a ton of money on the program as did GM but I also think that none of the companies were REALLY behind building EV's. I'm so excited to see a major auto company like Nissan publically committing to mass production EV's with a capital M.
Of course they're not for everyone and many, if not most will buy one as a second vehicle for only commuting and city driving. This is still a HUGE market and plenty to keep Nissans factory cranking. Go Nissan!!!
jake 9:13PM (7/23/2009)
Should be exciting to see the design, hopefully it's not ugly or too unusual (as green car designs can be).
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Snoopy 11:46PM (7/23/2009)
I tried signing up. Stupid thing won't take Canadians! Gah!
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CaramelZappa 1:39AM (7/24/2009)
Thank you Nissan for doing it right. I don't want a half-assed plug in hybrid or a terribly inefficient hydrogen car. I want an all electric car with a decent range that I can plug into some solar panels and no I'm not using any foreign oil or coal.
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why not the LS2LS7? 2:22AM (7/24/2009)
It's a very useful poll, because if you don't own your own home, chances are you can't have an EV, because you wont be able to charge it. Nissan needs this info to gauge their potential customer base, not just to figure out who needs what cable.
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Alan 4:05AM (7/24/2009)
Choices, a Mitsubishi or Nissan EV for me in 2011, might even be other options by then?!
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pabs333 7:14AM (7/24/2009)
USA people only? I cna't reg as its requires a USA address.. Thanks Nissan.
THink the Pinifarina BlueCar will be out before this so it won't be the first 'production' EV but I'd still like to see the design and get my name down... Please sort out a worldwide web page Nissan!
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denismeniz 8:41AM (7/24/2009)
Took the survey on the Nissan website. While choosing the Make and Model I noticed that they had listed a car company called "Testa". Think they meant Tesla. Oops.
It is nice to see a major manufacturer leapfrogging parallel / serial hybrids. I wish them much success. Now if they would only turn out an electric 240SX.
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lne937s 10:23AM (7/24/2009)
I am really excited about this. Nissan has been working on lithium ion electric cars for over a decade (see Nissan Altra) and is finally comming out with a mass market vehicle. Based on all of their investments around the world, they seem to be serious about making this happen.
One marketing idea- offer a package deal with an EV and a Versa or Cube. Then a typical 2 car household can have all of its needs covered in 1 transaction.
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