Following on
from yesterday’s ‘Blethers’ on the increasing numbers of vehicles on the
world’s roads and the threat this might pose to the planet, I thought you might
be interested in the latest example of manufacturers addressing these issues.
At the Paris
Motor Show in two weeks time, Nissan will unveil their latest concept vehicle,
the Nissan TeRRA SUV. It is powered by an innovative fuel-cell and driven by an electric
4x4 powertrain.
Driving the
front wheels is same electric propulsion system currently used in the Nissan
LEAF while each rear wheel will have its own an in-wheel electric motor. As no
drive shafts are required to power the rear wheels, there is no hump in the
floor or on the underbody thereby creating a truly flat platform.
The Nissan
hydrogen fuel cell stack is a flat, highly compact unit that features
world-leading power density of 2.5kW/L and there is plenty of room under the
bonnet. This is the latest in a series of Nissan fuel cells since 1996, which
now costs just one-sixth of its original 2005 design as the need for expensive
precious metals has been slashed to one-quarter of the previous level.
What the
pictures don’t show is the physical size of the car. It’s not as big as it
looks. That’s why the seats are ‘staggered’ so that those sitting side by side
actually have their shoulders overlapping slightly rather than rubbing
together. Ideal if you’re all sweaty from a gym work-out and then picking
the wife up on the way home.
In fact, the
TeRRA SUV is little more than 4 metres long and only 1.,8 metres wide, that’s
no bigger than a Qashquai.
Naturally,
Nissan has gone to town on the interior, this being a concept for the Paris
fashionistas, and so there is no ignition key. Instead a tablet computer is
inserted into the dock behind the steering wheel and performs all the necessary
automotive functions from there. Then when you park up, you take the tablet
into work or into the home and use it as a standalone computer thingy.
The result is a zero emission, four wheel drive SUV, and yes
I know it looks like a wee boy who has puffed up his cheeks and is holding his
breath, but it’s the technology that is important here.
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