Teaser for New Leaf (?) at Paris Auto Show - 29 Sept 2016

[LeftieBiker]

I wouldn't change the existing battery pack air cooled design, and I would implore Nissan to model all future LEAF higher Energy packs to be produced in the same exact packaging volume as they currently are and have been since the LEAF's inception in 2011. Being able to switch out a battery in the LEAF, like changing the battery in your cell phone is the beauty of this ideal setup,

I think that this is going a bit too far. They are apparently going to be putting the 30kwh pack in the Leaf S, so this pack will likely be install-able in older Leafs at some point, giving those cars a true 100 mile range as originally promised. I don't agree that Nissan should hobble all future Leafs in order to sell a modest number of packs to older Leaf owners.

 

[lkkms2]

I wouldn't change the existing battery pack air cooled design, and I would implore Nissan to model all future LEAF higher Energy packs to be produced in the same exact packaging volume as they currently are and have been since the LEAF's inception in 2011. Being able to switch out a battery in the LEAF, like changing the battery in your cell phone is the beauty of this ideal setup, i.e. no cooling lines to deal with, only a couple hours to change the battery pack and re-program the car. I am thinking Nissan will be able to use the existing packaging volume and just add more powerful cells to the modules. In 2012, A123 Systems already discovered new tecnology for EV batteries that would not need a (Thermal Management System) TMS, i.e. Liquid Orange Antifreeze/Glycol pumped around the Battery Modules to cool them, like the Volt, Spark and Bolt. What a headache to remove the batteries in these cars, you need to take 1/2 the car apart. What a waste, you'll never be able to upgrade the batteries and be forced to buy another $30k Electric Vehicle for greater range. The Volt, Spark and Bolt are 'disposable cars' with no options EVER, to upgrade your pack. Your stuck with the battery packs forever.

"...In addition, Nanophosphate EXT is expected to enable automakers to significantly reduce or completely eliminate active cooling systems in electric vehicle battery packs. A123 expects this to lower cost, reduce weight and improve reliability, providing automakers with a cost-effective solution that A123 believes will increases efficiency and minimize system complexity without sacrificing vehicle performance, battery life or driving range..."
http://www.a123systems.com/93f6a479-ed0f-4267-b270-3a9f51665815/media-room-2012-press-releases-detail.htm

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/06/a123-systems-promises-electric-car-batteries-with-longer-life/index.htm

Isn't this a little dated? 2013! Testing must not have demonstrated the initial claims. See note on Availability below I copied from the link provided.

Availability

A123's Nanophosphate EXT technology is scheduled to enter volume production in A123's 20Ah prismatic cells during the first half of 2013 (??). A123 is also evaluating plans to potentially offer Nanophosphate EXT across its complete portfolio of cell products. For more information, please visit http://www.a123systems.com.

 

[edatoakrun]

Back on-topic, it looks like inside EVs just got the story wrong about Nissan's Paris announcement.

Does anyone know where the image below originated?

="NeilBlanchard"]A couple of sites are reporting teasers about a new electric car from Nissan at the Paris Auto show in two days:

http://insideevs.com/nissan-releases-paris-reveal-teaser-with-connection-to-leaf/

While Nissan may have used hyperbole in describing the new Micra as revolutionary, it did get the lead in several positive reports from Paris, such as:

Paris: City of highlights and lowlights

La Creme

Nissan Micra: You might want to sit down for this, but someone actually designed a bite-size car that doesn't look like it was ripped out of the styling poorhouse. This little gumdrop doesn't come to the States, but its platform underpins our Versa Note hatchback -- a hugely popular subcompact despite the fact that the current model has the design chops of a sweat sock. That means the next-gen Versa Note should echo the Micra and also punch above its weight in the looks department...

http://www.autonews.com/article/20161002/OEM03/310039952/paris-city-of-highlights-and-lowlights

The Micra gallery at the link below probably gives you a pretty good idea of the (not bad, IMO) direction Nissan design will go both for the gen 2 Leaf, and the Note PHEV/BEVx? when they are introduced, sometime in the next year...

All-new Nissan Micra debuts in Paris, but it’s not headed our way

The Nissan Micra is an intriguing little critter. Like so many of its its subcompact ilk, it’s not sold here in the United States. But unlike the others, it gets so, so dang close -- it’s been offered for a few years in Canada...

So the all-new fifth-generation Nissan Micra, which just debuted at the 2016 Paris motor show, is worth at least a quick glance from our side of the Atlantic; assuming they keep selling them up north -- it's not yet confirmed for any market except Europe at the moment -- there’s a decent chance you’ll come across one in a border town sometime down the road.

And we’re pleased to say that, for a car this size, the results of the redesign aren’t bad at all. The new Micra, though lower, wider and longer than its predecessors, is still small (we don’t have the exact specs yet). But it wears the same Nissan styling seen on everything from the bigger Altima to the much bigger Murano, “floating” roofline and all. Yet somehow, the design language actually works...

Read more: http://autoweek.com/article/paris-motor-show/all-new-nissan-micra-debuts-paris-its-not-headed-our-way#ixzz4LwRlVIpv

See the links below from which the speculation seems to have originated, reposted from the corporate news thread:

http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=19842&hilit=nissan+corporate&start=10

Nissan's biggest announcement from the Paris Auto show is the new micra, which seems somewhat over-hyped in the title of the video below:

Nissan at Paris Motor Show 2016 - A revolution is coming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5euBsytg-A

However, other reports suggest a new Nissan in the same class might be revolutionary in that it will be a BEV:

Nissan plans new electric supermini to sit under the Leaf

Nissan’s new electric small car set to follow the next Leaf and could share tech with the Renault ZOE

Nissan is weighing up its options as to how it will expand its range of pure electric vehicles, with a Ford Fiesta-sized model lined up to join the Nissan Leaf, according to a senior company source...

...he gave the strongest indication yet on what’s likely to get the green light, saying: “We’ve invested $5.4bn (£4.1bn) in electric cars such as the Leaf, so we need to ensure we’re satisfying as many types of customer as possible. In Europe, that could mean looking towards B-segment hatches [Ford Fiesta size] and SUVs or crossovers.” ...

If we look towards crossovers or the B-segment for the next car, those could make perfect sense.” Nissan has relatively straightforward options for an electric B-segment model, illustrated here in our exclusive image...

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/nissan/97182/nissan-plans-new-electric-supermini-to-sit-under-the-leaf?utm_content=bufferfbe56&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

And perhaps, even offered for sale the USA?

Paris Motor Show: It's electric

...Nissan is weighing whether to sell its Micra in the U.S. after launching the subcompact hatchback in Canada in 2014. The latest-generation Micra will be bigger than the current model and gets a higher-quality interior to make it a better competitor to models such as the Ford Fiesta. It will look sportier, with a design influenced by the Sway concept unveiled at the 2015 Geneva show. Adding the Micra to Nissan's U.S. lineup may depend on how much Nissan thinks it will cannibalize its Versa sedan...

http://www.autonews.com/article/20160925/OEM03/309269996/paris-motor-show-its-electric