Nissan Esflow Sports Coupe Concept is the Love Child of a Leaf and a 370Z

The Electric Zero Emission Sports car is not a new idea. There have been many concepts at many motor shows that have been loosely based on this concept. Although very few are designed featuring a tested and efficient drivetrain that's all ready in a production car. This is where the Esflow concept is unique.

The Esflow makes use of the same EV technology found on Nissan's first Zero Emission production vehicle, the all-electric Leaf. The concept behind the....concept is that driving efficiently and environmentally should be entertaining as well. The car aims to be the driving enthusiasts choice by blending electric power, dramatic styling and sporting qualities.

The Esflow features two electric motors that lay over the rear axle and a 24 kWh battery pack that currently resides in the leaf. It is also has a two-seat layout much like the 370z. The combination of rear wheel drive and weight saving from having no rear seats propel the ESFLOW from 0 to 60 mph in under five seconds and improves the distance before recharge by about 50%, a significant improvement over the Leaf. That gives you 150 miles to put it through its paces.

The design incorporates a wrap around windscreen and a high belt line. The car features a unique body structure that's lighter and stronger and allows for no A pillars and a cockpit that a fighter pilot would find familiar.

According to Nissan the Esflow is suited for a tech savvy, professional guy. All considered the Esflow is a brilliant example of what could be the electric car driving enthusiasts actually might like to drive. It is to be seen if Nissan will produce it, but we'll keep our fingers crossed.

By Rory Farrell

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Nissan Cannot Meet Demand for New Leaf EV, Production Shortages to Last Longer than Expected

It has been known for a while now that Nissan is struggling with the Leaf’s slow rollout. The demand for the all-electric vehicle is so high that the Japanese maker has been forced to stop receiving new orders and concentrate on filling existing ones. However, projected production figures show that the company will only assemble 10,000 units until March 31, while it has already received 27,000 orders from the U.S., Japan and Europe.

The remaining 17,000 orders are likely to be filled in the next fiscal year starting April 1, during which Nissan will reach the maximum production capacity of 50,000 units at the Oppama plant in Japan.

Consequently, the automaker could take 33,000 more orders in the next fiscal year, but it hasn’t decided yet when it will do so. According to Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan wants to “deliver enough volume to the first lot” before giving new orders the green light.

One solution would be the opening of new assembly lines sooner than initially planned, but Shiga ruled out the possibility due to the fact that work has just started on the factory that would provide the additional lithium-ion battery packs needed.

That means Nissan's UK factory will begin producing Leafs in 2012, followed by the Tennessee plant in 2013, so the shortage could last longer than expected.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Autonews [Sub.required]

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