Nissan Unveils All-Electric Cube Prototype

Nissan released details of a prototype electric vehicle based on the Japanese market Cube minicar. The prototype features a front-wheel drive layout and uses a newly developed 80kW electric motor that’s powered by a stack of laminated compact lithium-ion batteries installed under the floor without sacrificing passenger or cargo space.

According to Japanese carmaker, the EV’s laminated lithium-ion batteries deliver twice the electric power compared to conventional nickel-metal hydride batteries with a cylindrical configuration. The prototype Cube is used by Nissan as a test bed for the compnay's forthcoming all-electric production vehicle that will be introduced into the market in 2010. The production EV will have a unique bodystyle and won’t be based on any existing Nissan model. -More pics after the jump