After creating the LEAF, Nissan has put its zero emission knowledge to good use with the creation of the two-seater concept car ESFLOW.
ESFLOW has been created from the ground up as a pure electric vehicle and features a long bonnet leading into a steeply raked, wrap around windscreen. The compact cabin means the occupants are bang on the car’s centre of gravity and there are hunched arches over ultra-low profile tyres wrapped around six spoke wheels.
Nissan said that ESFLOW is not an existing internal combustion engine powered vehicle that has been adapted to run on electricity, but a sports car that’s been designed from the outset as a zero emission vehicle. As a result Nissan’s designers had free rein to place the power train and batteries in the optimum positions to benefit the car’s handling and performance.
The green car is rear-wheel drive and runs on two motors. The car’s proportions allow the twin electric motors to be placed above the axis of the rear wheels, in a mid-ship position. These motors independently control the left and right wheels, and so the torque is optimised to ensure outstanding vehicle stability and control as well as efficient power regeneration. The motors produce enough torque in an instant for it to reach 100kph in under five seconds.
Power for the motors comes from the same laminated lithium-ion battery packs used in the Nissan’s first electric car, the LEAF, but in ESFLOW the packs are located along the axis of the front and rear wheels. This centralises the mass of the car, and thus its rotation point, close to the driver’s hips. These cleverly positioned batteries enable the car to travel over 240km on one charge.
An aluminium chassis has been built around the drive train, taking full advantage of the opportunities that zero emission electric propulsion provides. And, unlike a conventional fuel tank, batteries do not get lighter as they provide energy, so the car’s weight distribution remains constant.
Nissan said the colour scheme chosen for the concept car has been inspired by glaciers – highly reflective solidified liquid with blue tints in its shadows. Like its ZEV concept stable mate the ESFLOW’s headlights and Nissan emblem are tinted cool blue. The six spoke wheels contain blue carbon inserts while the same material adorns the side sill, roof mounted lip spoiler and lower rear bumper.
Inside, the seats are sculpted into the rear bulkhead of the car, negating the need for a heavy frame. They are immobile, but the steering and pedals adjust electrically to the best spot to suit each individual driver’s size and preferred driving position.
The seats themselves are upholstered in gold leather and perforated gold suede while the doors are trimmed in dark blue leather and suede. The blue and gold motif, is continued across the dashboard, which is also adorned with silver carbon trim, and features four multifunction illuminated LCD displays.
