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 21st March to 30th March, 2008, was designed 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 petrol-fuelled, 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 developing the Denki Cube Concept, the designers started with a well-defined canvas, the current generation Nissan Cube. The look-at-me Cube has always been the antithesis of traditional automotive style – square, minimalist, asymmetrical and humble – yet also warm, relaxing, practical and charming. To this 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 providing 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 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-litre in-line 4-cylinder petrol 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 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 Corporation (AESC), was jointly established with NEC Corporation and NEC Tokin Corporation – with the goal of dramatically enhancing future battery performance and reducing battery costs.

“Nissan first had an electric vehicle on the road in 1947 and has been field-testing lithium-ion batteries for more than 10 years,” said Castignetti. “Our ongoing goal is to dramatically enhance future battery performance while reducing battery costs.”

About Nissan Green Programme 2010

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd’s (NML) mid-term environmental action plan, Nissan Green Programme 2010 (NGP 2010), is designed to fulfil Nissan’s environmental philosophy of “symbiosis of people, vehicles and nature” and contribute to a sustainable mobile society. NGP 2010 is specifically focussed on reducing CO2 emissions both from Nissan products as well as from day-to-day corporate activities.

Nissan is focussed on three core areas related to the environment: reducing CO2 emissions; reducing exhaust emissions; and accelerating recycling efforts.

Highlights of Nissan Green Programme 2010 include:

• Incorporating CO2 reduction as one of the key management performance indicators.
• Launch a “three-litre car” with a target of 2010; a petrol-fuelled car that runs 100 kilometres on three litres of fuel.
• Expand availability of Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFV) within the next three years.
• Launch a Nissan electric vehicle early in the next decade.
• Develop an original Nissan hybrid vehicle targeted for launch in 2010/2011.
• Accelerate development of plug-in hybrid technology.
• By 2010, reduce CO2 emissions from global manufacturing plants by 7% (per unit) compared to 2005.