There is absolutely no doubt that the immediate future of vehicles on roads is in hybrid energy and it is the hybrid engine powered automobiles that are taking over the planet. That is a welcome sign as it signifies an important transition stage in which one day we will try and go completely green with all vehicles that are powered by alternate sources of energy and are certified ‘zero emission’. The race for a hybrid that can go the distance and is affordable is on among the big boys and Nisan seems to be trying hard to win it.
The new Nissan FR Hybrid test vehicle is based on the “Skyline” and houses a Li-ion secondary battery in the luggage room. The parallel hybrid vehicle incorporates a transmission integrating an electric motor and two clutches. The Skyline was used only for testing purpose, and the vehicle scheduled to be commercialized in 2010 will be based on another model. Nissan manufactured about 40 test vehicles and has been conducting driving tests on its test courses in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, and the US. This time, the company brought in two test vehicles for the briefing.
The company did not announce the mileage of the test vehicles, but it is about 1.6 times higher compared with existing models of the Skyline, according to Nissan. With two clutches, the vehicle can run as an EV using only the electric motor. Furthermore, if the clutch on the rear of the transmission is disengaged, the secondary battery can be charged by using the engine even when the vehicle is not moving. While running on the engine, the engine will be run under the most fuel-efficient condition and the surplus energy will be used to charge the battery during driving.
While the company did produce loads of other technical data, it would be nice to see one of these get in to production stage and get out on to the roads sooner than later. Considering that this is an electric vehicle that is also an REV, it is wonderful news for all those clamoring for greener technology on roads.
Via: techon.nikkeibp
