Nissan Nuvu Electric Minicar Concept Premieres in Paris

Measuring in at just 3 meters in length, the Nuvu is Nissan’s vision of a future minicar powered by a zero-emissions electric drivetrain. The funky looking concept car with the 2+1 seating arrangement is more than a styling exercise though as according to Nissan officials it’s a fully working mobile test bed for much of the tech that will be used on Nissan's forthcoming Electric-Vehicle that will be launched in 2010. Just to make it clear, the Nuvu is not that car. -Continued

The concept is equipped with a rear mounted electric motor that drives the rear wheels offering the stubby minicar a driving range of 125 km or 77miles and top speed of 120 km/h or 75mph. The electric motor is powered from a set of laminated lithium-ion-type batteries mounted under the seats.

Unlike a conventional lithium-ion battery with bulky cylindrical cells, the laminated Li-Ion battery as used in Nuvu has thin laminated cells and fewer components overall. Nissan says that this boosts its power by a factor of 1.5 at the same time as halving its physical size. It also remains twice as efficient as a conventional cylindrical Li-Ion battery even after five years or 100,000 km of continuous usage.

The Japanese automaker supports that a quick charge from empty to full should take between 10 to 20 minutes while a full charge should take between three to four hours from a domestic 220V socket.

Other unique features on the Nuvu include the dozen or so small solar panels on the glass roof that are shaped like leaves on a branch. The power generated by the solar panels is fed to the battery using a ‘tree trunk’ styled column within the car as a conduit. Not very functional, but what do you expect, it's a concept. Finally, the Nuvu also uses natural, organic and recycled materials within the cabin.