Nissan bullish on electric segment, plans range of electric-cars

May 12, 2008 Omar Rana

Nissan’s CEO Carlos Ghosn is planning an onslaught for the electric vehicle market and sees a potential for 10 million global electric car sales per year in cities such as New York, Washington, London, Paris and Mumbai, India. Ghosn also wants its partner Renault to be a major player.

“It’s a territory we want to own,” Ghosn said. “We are bullish on zero-emission vehicles because of the social trend. The young generation is demanding this. The social trend will make electric vehicles more favorable, along with incentives and tax cuts.”

Ghosn also said that Nissan wants to introduce multiple vehicles in the electric car segment rather than just one single car.

“The electric vehicle is not just one car but a lineup,” he said. “Small car, passenger sedan, LCV (light commercial vehicle).

At the 2008 New York Auto Show, Nissan showed the Denki Cube, a 1.3 liter inline 4-cylinder car with an electric motor and laminated lithium-ion batteries.

Nissan Denki Cube Concept: