One of the challenges surrounding the electric car is in the batteries that power the energy mechanics. The problem is that they have a limited life and, once it is reached, you need these battery packs. In short, the electric car is perhaps cleaner at the level of emanations it rejects, but it poses a problem – as well as the car with thermal engine – since we must find a way to recycle all this energy stored.
The British division of the Nissan manufacturer, in collaboration with the recreational vehicle company OPUS, proposes a concept that makes use of those battery packs that are not good enough to propel a car like the Nissan LEAF.
The Nissan x OPUS takes over the Nissan Energy ROAM, a portable power supply and designed to withstand the elements. With a capacity of 700 Wh and a power of 1 kW, the lithium-ion battery pack installed in the Nissan ROAM comes from first generation electric vehicles, probably a Nissan LEAF that has a lot rolled.
The power supply is installed in the OPUS tent trailer and provides power to the 12V and 230V circuits of this “house on wheels”. Backed by a solar panel, the tent-trailer has enough energy to survive seven days away from any source of energy to recharge the batteries, according to the manufacturer.
Of course, this is an idea, but this concept is interesting, especially since for most of us, camping remains a week-end activity or, at best, a few weeks during the year. This idea of recycling old electric vehicle batteries in an “occasional” vehicle is far from nasty.
The Nissan LEAF Nismo RC will be Nissan Micra Cup
Visitors to the Toronto Auto Show will have a chance to see the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC at close quarters, as will the Nissan Micra Cup spectators.
It looks like it comes straight out of a video game, but the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC is real and can even be driven. Nissan has also announced that the LEAF Nismo RC will be used as a safety car for some races of the Nissan Micra Cup this year.
If you did not know it, the Micra Cup is a rather unique series of races. As its name implies, the series involves the Nissan Micra, one of the most affordable vehicles in Canada. The series that exists since 2015 does not allow engine modifications. This is what makes the races so interesting when all the participants start on an equal footing.
The Micra is not a race car cover and that’s what makes the Micra Cup so appealing. Each vehicle is equipped with a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine, producing 109 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque. Brakes, suspension and chassis elements can be improved, but all cars have the same specifications.
In other words, the way you drive and your ability to keep your cool when twenty cars are fighting at the same time for the same chord point determines your position at the end. The Nissan LEAF Nismo RC is a bit more powerful. It is powered by a 60 kWh battery, like the recent Nissan LEAF PLUS, and two 120 kW electric motors with 322 horsepower and 472 lb-ft of torque. It will be used as an official safety car at two Micra Cup competitions scheduled at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park on May 17 and 19 and August 23 and 25. It will also be the Grand Prix of Trois-Rivières scheduled for the weekend of August 9th. Visitors to the Canadian Auto Show will also have a glimpse of the new Nissan LEAF Nismo RC this week in Toronto.
The Nissan IMs concept
The sedan is dying, but is not dead. Nissan has demonstrated the future of an electrified performance luxury sedan and we love it.
We will admit that we have succumbed to the movement that dictates that sedans are dead, but the fact is that in North America they still accounted for more than 4.25 million sales in the United States in 2018. While Volkswagen is focusing on the present with their new Passat, Nissan is aiming for a not too distant future with their pretty IMs concept.
As we all know, the future is all electric, just like the IMs. The specifications read exactly as we would like, starting with an electric motor at each axle. The full-traction IMs concept uses a 115 kWh fast charge battery. In total, the power is 360 kW (483 hp) and 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque.
Nissan has not provided any performance data, but it will be fast. Moreover, with a projected range of 610 km, it will go far. The adjustable air suspension will provide unmatched stability and comfort.
The style of the IMs indicates Nissan’s future design language, where simple carved lines predominate. Nissan’s V-Motion grille is just as imposing as the 22-inch wheels. Although it is not totally innovative, the IMs has a striking look.
The driving experience should be good, but it is the way passengers will be treated on board that is remarkable. Built to emulate a space of relaxation, the cabin of the IMs is, in a word, enormous. The long wheelbase of the car allows for a 2 + 1 + 2 seating arrangement in which those in the first row can pivot when the IMs takes you autonomously to your destination. The seats in the last row are smaller and can be folded down to create a first class space.
Although it may seem complex, the reality is that the whole interior is spartan and inspired by timeless Japanese minimalism. The large dashboard incorporates four screens, one of which is located behind the retractable steering wheel.
The level of technology is enormous and includes the “invisible to visible” technology that uses augmented reality, unveiled by Nissan at the recent CES show in Las Vegas. If this is the future of the sedan, we think they still have a lot of life in them.
