New Technologies in Nissan EV Test Car could Enhance Viability of Electric Vehicles

Nissan has revealed a high-power, twin-motor all-wheel-control test car that is equipped with new technologies that the company has developed for its next generation of EVs. The vehicle has been derived from the Nissan LEAF e+, which is 100 percent electric. It comes with an enhanced all-wheel drive system driven by front and rear high-power motors which are integrated with Nissan-developed chassis control technology. The outcome is an electric-drive all-wheel-control system that can be used for making a more viable electric vehicle.

Takao Asami, senior vice president for research and advanced engineering at Nissan said that the company is all set to shortly launch a next-generation EV that would be a true breakthrough. He said that the new electric-drive four-wheel-control technology that is currently under development integrates Nissan’s electric propulsion and 4WD control technologies with its chassis control technology to achieve a significant improvement in acceleration, cornering and braking performance that would be on the same level as that offered by the latest sports cars. This new EV technology would be a key component of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision of how vehicles are driven, powered and integrated into society.

Powerful, smooth high-output twin-motor drive
The powertrain comprises separate front and rear electric motors, which together generate 227 kilowatts of maximum output and 680 Nm of maximum torque. Nissan’s advanced EV technology delivers ultra-high-precision motor control provided to offer highly responsive and smooth acceleration, which is generally not available in electric vehicles. The all-wheel-control system serves to increase the performance and confidence of motorists on almost any kind of road. Ride comfort is optimal thanks to the precision control of both motors while vehicle pitch and dive has been kept to minimal levels due to the incorporation of regenerative rear motor braking to supplement the usual front motor regenerative braking. When the vehicle slowing down in urban traffic, this reduces the extent to which passengers are shaken back and forth and the thus the scope for motion sickness and related discomfort.

Independent brake control for top-level handling
The system not only optimizes front and rear torque allocation, but also applies independent brake control at each of the four wheels to maximize the cornering force generated by each tire. Thus, cornering becomes easy for the drivers and only minimal steering is needed.

A beacon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility
The bespoke exterior of the test car has been designed to effectively communicate the advanced Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology within. The car sports overfenders and rally style wheels that indicate that the vehicle has the capability to tackle even the most challenging road conditions.
Inside the test car, a 12.3 inch display which is mounted in the center of the instrument panel reports, in real-time, information on the vehicle control technology via a polished graphic interface. With the custom display, the driver can better understand vehicle movement, and judge the all-wheel-control technology’s performance at a glance.

Confidence on any road surface
Electric four-wheel-control technology increases driver confidence across a broad range of road conditions. The highly precise motor and brake control would make it possible for the car to follow the driver’s intended line even in highly tricky driving scenarios like cornering on snow-covered roads. Thus, motorists would find driving more enjoyable as they would have greater confidence to handle a wide array of road surfaces.