Nissan is the newest company to unveil its electric vehicle (EV) plan. It announced a massive investment of no fewer than two trillion yen (about $17.68 billion) over the next five years. The plan involves introducing a total of 23 vehicles with some form of electric powertrain, 15 of these cars will be pure EV’s. All of these plans will be part of Nissan Ambition 2030. The automaker unveiled 4 concept cars to illustrate a glimpse of its future.
The four concepts cars have fun names; Chill-Out, Surf-Out, Hang-Out , And Max-Out.
Chill-Out is a crossover with e-4orce,Nissan way of saying all wheel drive (AWD).
Surf-Out is a single cab pick up, with off – road capabilities and an AWD system.
Hang-Out is a electric AWD hatchback with sliding front and rear doors, it also has seats that can swivel to face outside for those hang out sessions.
Max-Out is envisioned as an electric convertible two seater with AWD. Nissan defines it as a ultra lightweight car which promises to deliver “dynamic cornering and steering response.”
Of the 23 vehicles Nissan has planned, 20 of them are coming in the next five years, it’s not clear if the 4 concept cars shown will be among those produced.
By the year 2026, Nissan hopes sales of EVs in Europe will hit 75 percent of all cars and 55 percent in Japan. By 2030, the automaker is targeting 40 percent in China and the United States.
Nissan Ambition 2030 forecasts the development of cobalt-free battery technology which will shave off manufacturing costs by 65 percent by the fiscal year 2028. Close to that year, Nissan EVs with solid state batteries will enter production for the first time, this will be after a pilot plant will have already been setup and operational in Yokohama by the fiscal year 2024.
Solid state batteries will reduce the time it takes to recharge by a third, in addition, it will bring battery costs down to $75 / kWh by the fiscal year 2028 and eventually down to $65 / kWh. This batteries will effectively make electric vehicles cheaper and more reliable for daily use.