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May 13, 2008 10:35 AM PDT

Vaulting the competition: Nissan plans electric car by 2010

by Kevin Massy

The Nissan Denki Cube may provide the platform for Nissan's production electric car.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

For all of the buzz surrounding General Motors' Chevy Volt, it now looks like Nissan may well be the first major automaker to market with an electric car in the United States. A line item buried in Nissan's mid-term business plan reaffirms the company's commitment to "zero-emission vehicle leadership," with a plan to introduce an all-electric vehicle in the U.S. and Japan in 2010 and then mass-market vehicles to consumers globally in 2012. In an interview in today's New York Times, Nissan's boss, Carols Ghosn, said that the company was looking at a range of electric models starting with small city cars, but eventually including minivans, crossovers, and commercial vehicles. At the weekend, Ghosn took the wraps off a Renault-branded electric demonstration vehicle in Israel, where Nissan has a partnership with California-based Project Better Place to provide electric vehicles and half a million electric-car charging stations over the next three years. A more likely vision for Nissan's electric car, however, is the Denki Cube, which Nissan unveiled at this year's New York auto show.

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by msjonker May 13, 2008 11:16 AM PDT
You'd think they would pick a more aerodynaimc design for an electric car...
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by open-mind May 13, 2008 12:10 PM PDT
Not sure how they feel Nissan will be first to market, since the Volt is also scheduled for 2010.



It would also be nice to know more details about the Nissan Cube.. range, cost, top speed, recharge time, etc.
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by open-mind May 13, 2008 12:19 PM PDT
OK, I found this info on slide 7 of the linked Cube pictures: "The battery pack for the car uses 24 modules. The car's range is estimated at 100 miles, with a 75mph top speed."



So it's basically an in-town car that can barely reach freeway speeds. I would bet that box will not go 100 miles when being pushed through the wind at 70MPH. Not really a competitor for the Volt which offers much higher performance and unlimited (gas-assist) range.
by basild October 17, 2008 9:47 AM PDT
Dear Bloggers:

The answer to OPEC is the electric vehicles at http://www.energynews.gr

What we need is an International Public Prosecutor Intervention.

Thank you.
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