OEM INTERVIEW NISSAN
“We have researched fuel cell in the
past as part of a collaboration with
other OEMs, but we had to shift
research focus on to EV technology”
data and a driver monitoring system inside the
car, which continually confi rms that the
driver’s attention is on the road ahead.
A close working relationship with its
suppliers means Nissan has been able to reduce
the cost of the required technology, potentially
making it available to cars in a variety of
segments in the near future.
Second coming
Sitting next to the Ariya concept at the Tokyo
Motor Show was the equally chic IMk Concept
– Nissan’s vision of an advanced electric,
compact commuter, Kei car that it hopes will
improve the reputation of a market segment
that has typically been related to poor build
quality and performance.
“Our new electric platform has allowed us to
investigate a wide range of body styles and we
focusing its eff orts on battery-powered
electrifi cation, rather than investigating other
alternative propulsions systems, such as
hydrogen fuel cell technology.
“We have researched fuel cell in the past as
part of a collaboration with other OEMs, but
we had to shift research focus on to EV
technology,” he says. “Resources are limited,
so we had to focus on one area and we decided
to ensure our EV technology was the best it
could be.”
He also believes that the company’s focus
should be on making battery technology as
cheap and accessible as possible, while
ensuring charging times are kept to a
minimum. The race for larger batteries and the
longest range isn’t one Fukuda believes Nissan
should compete in.
“We should reach a point where battery size
is su cient for most use cases. If customers
need an improved range and larger battery
packs, this gets expensive and it is a bad cycle
to get into,” Fukuda explains. “We feel that
those longer journeys that require maximum
range will typically only be required once or
twice a week, and if we can get charging times
down to fi ve or ten minutes, we feel the
customer will happily accept that, if the overall
price is kept to a minimum.”
In keeping with delivering electric motoring
to the masses, Nissan is also racing ahead with
its latest autonomous driving technology and
advanced safety function, Pro Pilot 2.0. The
ADAS, which will appear in the Japan-only
Nissan Skyline, will allow hands-off driving
in single-lane situations.
Drivers will be able to pass slower moving
tra c with a fl ick of the indicator stalk and
branch off the motorway with ease, only taking
back control of the wheel when the system
indicates to do so.
The advanced system is only made possible
thanks to a plethora of cameras and sensors
around the vehicle, 3D high-defi nition map
124 // January 2020 // www.electrichybridvehicletechnology.com
5. The combination of
electric power and
intelligent driving
assistance systems aims
to reduce both emissions
and accidents
6. At the 2019 Tokyo
Motor show, Nissan also
revealed an all-electric
concept of a Kei car,
called the IMk
think the IMk concept has got the potential
to be a complete game changer for the Kei car
market,” Fukuda says.
“That concept not only showcases the
performance potential with a new EV
powertrain and platform, but also the benefi ts
of the built-in active and passive safety
systems,” he adds.
The Tokyo Motor Show may have been the
perfect platform to showcase two new
concepts, but read between the lines and it
hinted at much more. This was a clear
statement of Nissan’s dedication to electric
propulsion systems.
It may have taken the industry leaders a
while to return with another smash hit, but
the coming years look set to be packed with
EVs that the marque hopes will keep it at the
top of the charts.
5
6
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