Until fairly recently, Nissan has been mostly quiet about its fuel cell development program. The Japanese brand recently became the first to run a fuel cell vehicle around the Nurburgring in Germany when its X-Trail FCV took to the circuit more typically populated by GT-Rs, Corvettes and Porsches. Now it looks like Nissan might follow the lead of Tesla with its first production fuel cell vehicle. Izuho Hirano, Nissan's fuel cell laboratory manager has told AutoCar that a sports car or luxury car would likely be the best place to introduce the technology. Using the same rationale as Tesla and Honda with the FCX Clarity, expensive new technology like lithium batteries and fuel cells would be accepted better in a more expensive car because other premium features could be packaged with it. A fuel cell car must have something to justify the price besides the powertrain. Nissan will make a decision in early 2009 about whether to proceed with a production fuel cell car for launch in 2014.

[Source: AutoCar]

Yesterday a National Hydrogen Road Tour kicked off in Portland ME. A motley collection of ten hydrogen fueled vehicles from a variety of manufacturers will be making their way from Maine to California over the next two weeks. The cars including the VW Tiguan HyMotion along with cars from BMW, Honda, Toyota, GM and others will be making 31 stops in 19 states along the way. Not all of the vehicles will be driven the entire route. General Motors for example will bring out its Project Driveway Fuel cell Equinox in the cities where that program is running, New York, Washington and Los Angeles. BMW will be using the mono-fuel (hydrogen only) version of the Hydrogen7 and is planning to cover the entire route. The tour is being sponsored by the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the Departments of Energy and Transportation and the National Hydrogen Association to promote hydrogen as a way to promote hydrogen's potential as a fuel. VW's John Tillman is writing a tour blog as they cross the country in the Tiguan. The VW press release is after the jump.

[Source: Volkswagen]

Nissan is in the midst of developing its own hybrid drive system that is scheduled to debut on rear wheel drive Infiniti models in 2010. According to reports from Japan last week, its a good thing Nissan still has two years until Job 1 since the system has still not reached the level of refinement needed to be competitive in the current market. The system has some impressive specifications including a 110 lb lithium ion battery that can provide a three mile electric drive range. Unfortunately during a media drive last week the prototype apparently did not behave as seamlessly as people have come to expect from the latest production hybrids. Deceleration during regenerative braking was uneven and acceleration during mode transitions sagged. For now Nissan doesn't plan on offering any hybrid only models like the Prius and the new system is being developed in a G35 sedan, although a different car could be used for production. The hybrid drive is claimed to boost fuel efficiency by 40 percent.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. req'd]

Nissan unveiled the latest edition of prototype electric Cube a few days ago as part of an advanced technology forum in Japan. Unfortunately ABG didn't get an invite to this event. Popular Mechanics however did have someone on hand and he got to sample the EV-02. The Cube stores electrical energy in a lithium ion battery pack, but Nissan officials told PM that the battery chemistry has not been settled yet. Nissan is apparently still testing at least 16 different battery chemistries trying to find the optimum combination of power and energy capacity. Nissan's target is to have a range of at least 100 miles but they would prefer 150 miles. In addition to a decent range, engineers also want to achieve the ability to get an 80 percent charge in 15 minutes. They will have to come up with a chemistry that can withstand such fast charging but special high-powered charging stations will be required as well. The first early production versions for commercial and government fleet tests should appear in 2010 with retail sales two years later.

[Source: Popular Mechanics]

Once upon a time cars made by the Nissan Motor Co. actually wore the Datsun brand rather than that of the parent company. In 1986 Nissan finally retired the Datsun brand in favor of its own name but not before creating an iconic sports car in the form of the Datsun 240Z. Design student Benjamin Nawaka has created a four door coupe called XLink that is supposed to capture the essence of the 240Z. Aside from having four wheels, it's not clear how the original Z inspired this new concept. There don't seem to be any elements of the original car brought into this new design. Regardless of what you might think of the aesthetics of the concept above, it has some enticing powertrain elements. The XLink is reportedly concieved around a diesel hybrid powertrain. It's not known if Nissan has any intention of ever producing a car like this, but they have both diesel engines and hybrid system in development for a 2010 launch. Will they combine the two? who knows? It's fun to contemplate though.

[Source: AutoExpress]

If you are so insecure in yourself or so proud that you are insulted by every little slight, then you have bigger problems that need to be addressed. Case in point, a new ad being run in Israel by Nissan touting the fuel efficiency of the Tiida (sold here as the Versa). The ad portrays some men who bear a striking resemblance to Saudis physically assaulting a Tiida in response to learning of its efficiency. While the ad is clearly racially insensitive and perhaps foolish from a marketing perspective, especially considering the region of the world where it is running it is clearly not a big deal. For Saudi officials to call for punishments to be applied to Nissan is idiotic. Being insulted by anyone is not cause for punishment. If you don't like the ad, don't buy the product. Personally I find the ad to be somewhat immature in it stereotypical depiction of Arabs, and it certainly wouldn't sway me toward this car, I wouldn't deny Nissan or any other company the right to air the ad. Hopefully we won't see any violence result from this.

[Source: Jerusalem Post]

Click the hybrid G35 for high-res images

While Nissan has been offering a version of the Altima in selected states for the last two years with a licensed version of the Toyota's hybrid system, they have been diligently working on their own design back in Japan. The Nissan developed system is expected to debut in 2010 in an Infiniti model and the company is now showing a prototype publicly for the first time. The new system is a single motor configuration with two clutches that allow the vehicle to be powered by either the engine, the electric motor or both. When the system launches it will be the first from the Japanese automaker to be applied to a rear wheel drive platform and the first to use lithium ion batteries.

Also using lithium ion batteries will be Nissan's electric vehicle launching in 2010. At the New York Auto this Nissan showed the Denki Cube, a battery powered version of the Japanese market Cube. A next generation prototype with new batteries and a new 80 kW motor and inverter is now running in preparation for the fleet launch of an all-new electric car. The production model will have distinct styling and won't be based on any other existing Nissan vehicle. The Nissan-NEC joint-venture, AESC (Automotive Energy Supply Corporation) will be supplying batteries for both vehicles. The Nissan press release is after the jump.


[Source: Nissan]

A hint was given when the Spanish Government announced its wish list to reduce the Iberian country's dependence on oil but now it's been announced by Europa Press: The Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce has announced an agreement with Nissan-Renault to study the possibility of a large-scale project (à la Better Place) to manufacture and sell EVs in Spain, as well as creating a network to plug them. Renault has confirmed such contacts. Spain expects to have one million electric and hybrid cars on the roads by 2014, and an agreement such as the one for Denmark, Portugal and Israel could be a solution. Renault-Nissan is surely making its stakes with such ambitious projects, since Spain is Europe's 5th largest market. Pictured on the right, one of Renault's early electric prototypes, a 1971 Renault 5, which was also manufactured in Spain.

[Source: Europa Press via Econoticias]

Electronic nannies are all the rage these days, with many cars being equipped with lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and more. Nissan's got a new one in the works, though, that really seems rather intrusive: the ECO Pedal. Did the simple gas pedal really need to be tweaked? The pedal is programmed to push back at your foot when its computer decides you don't really need to accelerate as fast as you want. Nissan hopes that the pedal will teach overzealous drivers how to drive more efficiently, ultimately saving 5 to 10-percent on your fuel bill in the process.

We are all for learning to be better drivers, especially with the goal of reducing our environmental impact. Still, we'd greatly prefer a readout or a gauge which told us when we were lead-footing it a bit too hard. Fortunately, the system can be turned off.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Carlos Ghosn has some harsh-sounding words for alternative vehicles which still use some form of oil for their operation -- think current hybrids and future extended-range electric vehicles. "I want a pure electric car. I don't want a range extender. I don't want another hybrid. It's not going to be zero emissions in certain conditions. It's going to be zero emissions." Sounds like Ghosn is taking a little shot at today's hybrids like the Toyota Prius and even Nissan's own Altima, which uses technology licensed from Toyota. Also under fire from the Nissan chief would be the next generation of green cars like the Chevy Volt. Intriguingly, Ghosn also claims that Nissan's electric vehicles will be profitable right from the get go, unlike many other impending alternatives... again, the Volt.

Another interesting tidbit revealed by Nissan's head honcho is the fact that the EV's his company sells in America will have the ability to travel 100 miles before being depleted, while Europeans will only require half that range.

[Source: The New York Times]

While solar-powered cars have a long road ahead of them before there is any real chance that our daily driven vehicles will be powered by nothing more than the sun (not counting large arrays powering a single electric car), a small smattering of solar cells hooked up to a car battery is enough to keep the ancient lead-acid lump charged up. Some dealerships have chosen to purchase these small solar chargers individually, and now it appears as if Nissan as a whole will be doing just that for dealerships carrying its vehicles. All North American and European Nissans will be equipped with solar chargers from ICP Solar, as the two companies announced recently.

Tom Clark, Nissan's vice president of sales for the Americas said, "With the new generation of cars including more and more electronics embedded such as GPS navigation systems, DVD player, cruise control, hands-free cell phones, and voice activation, the battery drain on new cars will become more of an issue for major automotive manufacturers and car dealers." Considering how long Nissan's Titan truck is sitting unsold -- the company has an almost unbelievable 489 day supply -- perhaps this wasn't a difficult decision to make.

[Source: CNET]

Click above for a hi-res gallery of the X-Trail FCV on the Nürburgring

What's this? A Nissan-at-the-Nürburgring story that doesn't involve the mighty GT-R? Well, knock us over with a feather. We're accustomed by now of hearing about the GT-R's Nordschleife heroics, so when we saw a Nissan release touting a time of 11 minutes, 58 seconds, we thought, "Huh?" Then we saw that the vehicle recording the time was none other than the new X-Trail FCV. The 11:58 run is a record for a fuel cell vehicle on the graffitti-strewn Green Hell. Of course, it's also the only time a FCV has tackled the legendary circuit, so let's not go all crazy with the champagne just yet. Driver Frank Eickholt says that if the track had been dry, he likely would have recorded a substantially faster time -- perhaps by as much as 40 seconds. In any case, Honda, you now have a target to beat with your FCX Clarity. And GM, you're out on the 'Ring enough as is -- get Heinricy into a Fuel Cell Equinox and see what he can wring out of it. After all, it's not a real record until there's a little competition!


[Source: Nissan]

The Renault-Nissan Alliance had added another locale to its roster of partnerships for spreading electric drive to the masses. This time the Franco-Japanese alliance is hooking up with its US home base, Tennessee. The state of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority will work together to promote zero-emission vehicles. Gov. Phil Bredesen has committed to exploring strategies that the state can use to promote electric vehicles including a public charging station infrastructure. For its part Nissan has committed to bringing electric vehicles to the use for fleet testing beginning in 2010 with a global mass-market introduction in 2012.


[Source: Nissan]

Few of our North American readers might know the Note. It's Nissan's interpretation of the subcompact minivan, which can seat five comfortably and adds versatility with the outer dimensions of a subcompact car. The range of available engines was a little poor at launch (Europeans usually get a wide array of engines to choose from) and, thanks to the Renault-Nissan alliance, the 1.5 dCi good for 105hp is being now installed in the Note. This engine is mated to 6-speed manual transmission. This adds to the existing 1.5 dCi that produced 86hp and to the 1.4 liter 88hp and 1.6 liter 100 hp gasoline engines. The new dCi engine has also a Diesel Particulate Filter installed as standard. The Note is manufactured in Sunderland, UK and prices for the new version start at €18.850 (in Spain).


[Source: Nissan]

What, an eco label not given to Toyota? Yes, the Japanese Ministry of Environment has awarded Nissan Motor Corp with the "Eco First" environmental label. This distinction is given to the Japanese marque for its commitment towards a better environment, specifically, Nissan's "Green Program 2010." Nissan's program not only aims for reducing its vehicles' emissions, but reducing other pollutants that affect waters, soil and air, a 100 percent rate of recycling in Japan, and raising environmental awareness. Nissan can now use it in advertising and promotions and it undoubtedly will. The "Eco First" program was launched to promote the recognition and encouragement of ecological actions for all types of businesses, according to the Kyoto Protocol.

[Source: Nissan via Autoplus]