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Tuesday, 5th February 2013
In General Japan News,
Nissan vice chairman: 'electric vehicle not viable replacement'
Despite some believing they offer the future of motoring, Nissan has announced that it will be backtracking on plans to develop electric cars charged via batteries.
Reuters reported Takeshi Uchiyamada, Nissan's vice chairman, as suggesting that the cars are severely limited.
"Because of its shortcomings – driving range, cost and recharging time – the electric vehicle is not a viable replacement for most conventional cars," Mr Uchiyamada was quoted by the news agency as saying.
Instead, Mr Uchiyamada said that the company needed to focus on "something entirely new" by which he is referring to fuel-cell cars which use hydrogen to generate electricity.
Thegreencarwebsite.co.uk recently reported that Nissan would be making the gearbox for its electric vehicles the LEAF and the eNV200 at its plant in Barcelona.
The Japanese car giant is reportedly investing six million euros to get the parts into production in the Spanish city.
Frank Torres, managing director of Nissan Motor Iberica, said that the Spanish plant's output would represent "not only a great achievement for Nissan, but for the entire industry in this country".
Written by Graham McPherson
Related news stories:
Nissan wants to put self-driving cars on Japan's roads by 2016 (9th April 2015)
Nissan and Mitsubishi join forces to produce minicar (11th June 2013)
Nissan to increase production (21st September 2010)
Nissan hit by Hitachi part delay (14th July 2010)
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