2012 Nissan EV - teaser image

2012 Nissan EV - teaser image

This Sunday, August 2, Nissan will unveil the first of several electric cars it plans to offer globally at a ceremony held at its Yokohama plant. Meanwhile, it is now teasing expectant EV fans with ghostly glimpses of the car on a new website: Nissan-ZeroEmission.com.

The 2012 Nissan EV will be a five-seat, five-door hatchback. It will be a dedicated design, meaning it won't share body panels with any gasoline vehicles. Like the 2011 Chevrolet Volt extended-range EV, it will be highly aerodynamic for maximum battery range.

The lithium-ion battery pack uses cells from Automotive Electric Supply Corp., a joint venture between Nissan and NEC Corporation. The pack, mounted in the car's floor, is rated at 24 kilowatt-hours of energy capacity.

The car is driven by an 80-kilowatt electric motor powering the front wheels. Nissan claims a real-world range of 100 miles, and charging times of 7 hours (using 220-Volt current) and 14 hours with standard 110-Volt wall plugs.

Nissan has demonstrated the powertrain for its EV in several different "mule" vehicles, including the 2012 Nissan EV prototype we drove in May. More recently, it was also shown in a 2009 Nissan Versa hatchback (sold in some markets as the Tiida).

Among other features, Nissan will provide an iPhone app that monitors the battery's state of charge, recharge time and cost, and the nearest charging station. It will also let owners direct the car to heat or cool itself before they arrive.

Perhaps most remarkably, Nissan claims it can price its compact EV at no more than a comparable gas-engined compact. Whether that refers to the total cost of ownership over time or retail price has yet to be spelled out, though higher initial cost can be offset by the lower cost per mile of running on grid power rather than gasoline.

Hundreds of early production models will be provided to US fleets and utilities late in 2010, and global retail sales start in 2012.

Let us know here at GreenCarReports.com what you think of the styling glimpses on Nissan's new website.

Nissan EV-02 Gauge Setup

Nissan EV-02 Gauge Setup

Nissan EV-02 prototype at speed

Nissan EV-02 prototype at speed

[CarAdvice.com.au, Detroit News]