As part of an exclusive first look at Nissan’s electric sportscar concept, the ESFLOW, there was chance for a collection of journalists from England, Germany, and Portugal to take part in a group discussion with Nissan’s Product Director for zero emission vehicles, Francois Bancon (pictured below), about the manufacturer’s electric car strategy and the thinking behind the ESFLOW.
Francois first began by explaining Nissan’s journey so far in the world of electric cars and although Nissan has had a long history of electric vehicles stretching back to the 1940s, the current programme of zero emission vehicles was kicked off in 2005 with the introduction of the PIVO concept, the carmaker then added to their EV portfolio with several more concepts including the PIVO 2, Land Glider and Townpod. However it wasn’t until the Nissan LEAF appeared in 2009 that Nissan confirmed a production-ready zero emission vehicle.
Not satisfied with creating one of the first mass produced small family cars, the Japanese company has taken steps in exploring zero emission driving with their sporting heritage. Francois wanted to integrate the idea of both the ZEV but with a key symbol for Nissan, the thoroughbred GT-R. The output of these two potentially conflicting automotive ideals is the ESFLOW concept, set for an official debut at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
The company has been very careful to develop electric vehicles in conventional market segments, which means nothing outlandish and too futuristic from Nissan just yet – and any consumer that sits behind the wheel of a LEAF will immediately feel at home if they have ever driven a small family car. The ESFLOW too, barring a few flourishes, is a non-radical concept.
The need for convention and realism placed a number of restrictions on the developers of the sporty concept, the car had to be accessible and not elitist, after all this car isn’t designed to be a car for rich people, and any pricing point had to be competitive with traditional two-seater sports cars. They therefore set a theoretical price limit of €25,000-€30,000. Francois’ motto was to include ‘all the stereotypes of a sports car’ into the ESFLOW’s design. The finished concept is testament to that, with its typical low stance, wheels pushed to the corners of the vehicle, and a long bonnet. The ESFLOW reeks fun, performance, and driver enjoyment.
The vehicle on show is no pie-in-the-sky concept so often seen at Motor Shows, all the technology is realistic and available today – Nissan wanted to ensure the car was credible. Obviously the proven battery and motor technology found in the LEAF is at work under the gleaming aluminium shell of the ESFLOW. Featuring the same battery technology in a T-formation for balanced distribution and performance, the car actually has two LEAF motors – one for each rear wheel – this means that the ESFLOW has twice the power output of the LEAF, and coupled with the reduction in weight this has led to Nissan stating that the ESFLOW can hit 62mph from a standing start in under 5 seconds. While that reduction in weight compared to the production LEAF sees range extended to over 200km on a single charge.
During the discussion, the question of liquid cooling technology was put to Bancon, after several high profile dismissives from competitors in the ZEV world had questioned Nissan’s lack of cooling technology. Bancon’s answer is honest and refreshing, the company is confident in its battery technology and currently sees no need of any additional cooling technology. While this means that the LEAF will not be currently offered in places of extreme weather – think searing Middle Eastern heat, or the piercing cold of Northern Canada – it does mean that for most, the performance of the LEAF will remain constant. In what is undoubtedly a sensible public relations strategy, the car maker is phasing the LEAF roll-out in the USA to States with more temperate climate for the first 12 months.
Nissan is also realistic that demand for electric vehicles depends on the recharging infrastructure. There is a need for public bodies and local governments to help push and fund the roll out of public recharging points, and specifically quick charge points. Interestingly, the myth of having to hang around for hours while your ZEV recharges (slowly) can be put to bed. For motorists in a hurry, it is reassuring to know that on a quick charge the LEAF’s battery pack can recharge up to 60-65% in only 5 minutes. This philosophy of quick charge is leading the company to explore opportunities with combining charging stations with social activities. While it is obvious that conventional petrol forecourts and motorway service stations will start catering for ZEVs, the possibilities stretch much further than that – going shopping? How about a recharging station at the shopping mall? Or the golf driving range? Yes, there’ll be one there too. Perhaps understandably the massive supermarket chains are very keen to begin deploying this technology. A future in which Tesco not only knows what you shop for (existing clubcard technology) but knows when you plug your vehicle in, could lead to some very interesting and innovative advertising and incentive offerings from the grocer.
And it is this quick recharge strategy that the company is looking to develop, rather than the alternative route of battery swapping. Francois’ opinion that swapping batteries would mean expensive machinery and battery-ownership problems, being right on the money. There would also be the need for manufacturers to share and standardise battery technology.
The Nissan ESFLOW is car which embraces the Japanese carmaker’s racing roots, and Francois is keen to introduce a fun element to electric vehicles.
Candidly the discussion moved on to a problem which Francois admits Nissan was yet to adequately solve – the issue of sound, or perhaps more aptly called the absence of sound. More than the LEAF, the ESFLOW, has two critical areas when it comes to sound. Not only is there a real danger of a near silent car to the pedestrians of this world the same with any electric vehicle. However, vital to the success of a sports car is the emotive grunt of the engine which any driver demands from a performance vehicle. And this is a key battle faced by the whole automotive world, with no wild V8 under the bonnet what sound should it make? Francois’ opinion is that it should not make a false V8 noise but something exciting and thrilling for the driver. What this sound is we’re yet to hear.
Moving on to the future control of vehicles in general, Nissan again has some interesting news on this front. In an age where from a young age the majority of children learn to use a joystick or D-pad to drive their virtual cars, could the steering wheel be heading for the museum? Not so, according to research available to Nissan, in all tests the familiar steering wheel and pedals layout easily out performs a joystick as the best way of controlling a vehicle.
As for the future, Francois expects approx 20% of all new cars Nissan builds by 2020 to be zero emission, and TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk would not bet against some of those cars being related to the ESFLOW – in spirit and technology.
