Click above to high-res gallery of the Nissan Cube
All-electric vehicles are on their way, and Nissan plans to be a player with an all-electric vehicle on the market in Japan and the U.S. by 2010 for fleet customers and 2012 for everyone else. While the automaker has been testing a system that uses a lithium-ion battery pack in its boxy Cube runabout (above), it's not known if the Cube will get the electric drivetrain when it goes on sale in the U.S. Regardless, Nissan plans to preview its electric intentions in two weeks at the 2008 New York Auto Show with an all-electric concept car. Details are scarce, but it's said to have a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 75 mph. While it's true that most people drive less than 100 miles per day, a top speed of just 75 mph seems especially limiting. Apparently passing on the freeway is not an option on this car. We'll be on hand in New York to catch this EV concept's debut, so stay tuned.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
Pontiac El Cami-"NO"
Spy Shots: Baby Cayenne caught on 'Ring!
First Peek: 2009 Dodge Ram R/T
Spy Shots: Corvette ZR1 attacking the Nurburgring
2008 International Engine of the Year awards announced...
Future Classic: 1984 Chrysler Minivans
Autoline on Autoblog with John McElroy
First Drive: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Project Track Slut, Part One: Pick a weapon on the cheap
By the Numbers: April 2008
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
FSM @ Mar 10th 2008 12:51PM
"Details are scarce, but it's said to have a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 75 mph. While it's true that most people drive less than 100 miles per day, a top speed of just 75 mph seems especially limiting. Apparently passing on the freeway is not an option on this car."
Thats the problem with too many people. They don't want to make any concessions when it comes to helping us become oil independent. It seems like everyone want their electric car to be the same size as their SUV (to make it supposedly safer), be capable of doing 0-60 in 5-6 seconds, and be able to tow their fricking boat. And if it doesn't do all of these things, then phuck it. Whatever happened to the spirit of the american people where we would be willing to sacrifice to achieve our goals? It is obviously lost, heaven forbid we give up acceleration and 155mph top speeds in exchange for being able to thumb our noses at the oil cartels. This pisses me off.
mike @ Mar 10th 2008 1:27PM
"Sacrifice" is a lost word in America....at least been so for last few decades.
Thomas @ Mar 10th 2008 12:56PM
If you have to go faster than 75 mph to pass someone, then passing them is not necessary.
FrankTheCrank @ Mar 10th 2008 1:31PM
"a top speed of just 75 mph seems especially limiting"
Yeah, and so is $6 a gallon.
Some are already talking about $200 for a barrel of oil. Double the price of today's oil...oh wait, it's at $107. Great.
iDevin @ Mar 10th 2008 1:08PM
I live in Los Angeles and commute 37 miles each way every day. I rarely ever get to go faster than 50mph due to the amount of traffic. I think a vehicle with a 75MPH top speed would be perfect for all of my non-road-trip driving. The road trips are rare enough that I could either borrow or rent a car. That said I would rather have a range of about 120 miles (unless there were a range extender) to give a lot of cushion for running the A/C, which is vital in this part of the world during the summer when triple digit temperatures are common.
KT @ Mar 10th 2008 1:25PM
Wouldn't it be beneficial for an all electric car to be somewhat aerodynamic?
I'm sure that would extend the range a few miles and probably help increase the speed a bit.
Then again, I'm no engineer.
SPG @ Mar 10th 2008 1:46PM
While passing a Prius "what a gas guzzler".
That would be fun.
Cudos to Nissan, I can't wait to see these as cabs, delivery vehicles, and urban funk-mobiles.
carsly @ Mar 10th 2008 1:47PM
What happens when the batteries stop holding a charge 2-3 years down the road like my iPod or laptop? Then the range will drop to the length of your driveway (if you're lucky).
Also, all electric vehicles are far from green, most of the electricity in the US is generated by burning coal so if a lot of these cars get sold and are sucking on the power grid (which will be subject to frequent brownouts, but that's another story) expect coal mining and burning to go up. So though you might feel that you're helping the environment, good luck believing that when you have to wear a respirator to go outside.
FSM @ Mar 10th 2008 2:30PM
Don't look at these cars as green. Simply think of them as a way to reduce our oil dependency. We can then think about how to clean up our power plants by changing the way they make energy.
pmiddle5 @ Mar 10th 2008 2:39PM
Its more so just a step in the right direction. If you really want we can just keep burning petrol forever and not think about the switch over. Its just a step in the right direction!
Alaska and other really cold areas have electric outlets in their parking lots for block heaters and such, do the same for the work parking spaces in all the places. Better yet in places with parking garages where you have to pay for parking anyway. Just throw another 2 bucks in for the day
pmiddle5 @ Mar 10th 2008 2:43PM
p.s. Think the gov.t will be bummed when people cant speed on the interstate? All that revenue gone what a shame
The Luigiian @ Mar 10th 2008 4:09PM
Finally, a reason to buy a box car.
pmiddle5 @ Mar 10th 2008 4:29PM
They better cover that flat box roof with some dang solar panels too!!! Sorry but I'm enroute to being an industrial designer and this stuff drives me nuts sometime.
MajorGeek @ Mar 10th 2008 4:39PM
Look, we made the Scion even fuglier! But its not as ugly as a Prius and runs on batteries. Pass.
Ios @ Mar 10th 2008 4:39PM
I don't see this reducing our oil dependency, or even having much of a market. The 75mph top speed means this is mostly a city car (considering in some places in the U.S. the speed limit is 80, this should've been made the limit, if not a little over) , but most people living in the city won't want to pay to own two cars.
I'm willing to make a sacrifice, but first and foremost I need a car that meets my needs. Give it to me reasonably priced with a 250 mile range (remember, it's going to DEGRADE over time) and a top speed around 90mph, we'll talk.
FSM @ Mar 10th 2008 5:24PM
Dude...just because people are driving 80mph does not mean that is the speed limit. A quick check in wikipedia shows that the only 80mph zones are out in the middle of nowhere Texas. You say that you are willing to make a sacrifice but then you say that this car is not good enough. Just what sacrifice are you willing to make? Is the ability to go 90mph really so important?
skypilot @ Mar 10th 2008 5:38PM
it looks almost EXACTLY like the scion and honda element cars...WTF IS IT WITH DRIVING A BOX AROUND?!?!?!
Mulad @ Mar 10th 2008 6:49PM
Hell, all the people complaining about top speed should know that a number of trucking companies are limiting their vehicles' top speed. Con-way had a press release today saying that their trucks will be limited to 62 mph...
David Wright @ Mar 11th 2008 7:51AM
Yes, with the current generation of electric cars there are limitations. But we are on our way. Each next generation of electric cars will be better than the last.
I recall it being argued that mobile phones would never catch on - because they were cumbersome (the size of a house brick!) and needed recharging. Nobody was likely to buy somehing that needed recharging..
Between 2009-2012 a whole bunch of bigname carmakers are bringing their first all-electric plug-in cars to market. Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Subaru and possibly Fiat, Volkswagen and others. The race is on.
Those makers who find excuses not to join in will be left behind. There is a groundswell of latent demand. Potential customers are understandably skeptikal or reticent about buying the few vehicles currently on offer, but I suspect they will be rushing to buy as soon as we pass the tipping point where range and price become acceptable. I am in that queue.