Cute Nissan Nuvu shows electric future

It doesn't take a genius to work out that the Nuvu concept is named to literally mean 'new view'. Nissan's latest show car is designed to study how urban users really utilise their cars, while the car on the stand in Paris also offers a glimpse at Nissan's near-term electric-powered future.

What's all the fuss about?

Nissan's designers spent a lot of time studying how city dwellers use their cars. The main conclusion, which is hardly a revelation, is that the vast majority of people travel alone. A small percentage of trips are done with two people in the car, but the number of cars carrying more passengers than that is minimal. Hence the Nuvu is designed to be compact and easy to drive in a city environment. It's optimised to transport the driver and a single passenger, though there is also one occasional rear seat. Nissan plays down the significance of the electric powertrain by stating that it now assumes that cars of the future will all be powered in this way.

Any new technology?

The Nuvu's electric propulsion system is of particular interest, as it will power a new Nissan electric car, though the company is being coy about its details. We do know that an electric motor drives the rear wheels of the Nuvu, which stores its energy in efficient laminated lithium-ion batteries. A driving range of nearly 80 miles is quoted, with a respectable top speed of 75mph. A full charge would take three to four hours from a mains supply, though the concept also features a novel 'energy tree', which utilises solar power to keep the cabin cool and the battery charged.

Will it ever see the light of day?

In Paris, Nissan firmly pointed out that the Nuvu is not intended to preview a production model. However, the electric powertrain utilised by the concept will be available in a new car that goes on sale in Japan and the USA in 2010, hence the secrecy surrounding its exact details.

Shane O' Donoghue