The History of Electric Vehicles since the 19th Century

The History of Electric Vehicles since the 19th Century

Nissan have always been pioneers in the car industry, changing the way that we look at motoring and the way we drive. Nissan have been developing electric vehicles since the 19^th century; changing the revolution of driving. With thousands of models sold across the globe it’s no secret that electric cars are cheaper and more economical than the average petrol vehicles! The Tama – 1940s    Nissan’s first electric vehicle made its first debut on the road back in 1947 with the Tama model, which was closely followed by a very similar but slightly larger version, the Tama Senior in 1949. The four-seater Tama’s Lead-acid battery was able to reach an impressive cruising range of 65km and only produced 4.5bhp with a top speed of 35km/h. Surprisingly the Tama actually bettered its successor and was regularly used as the choice of taxi until 1950.   The EV – 1980s The motoring manufacturer continued to pioneer the electric vehicle market with the arrival of the Nissan EV-II in late 1985. The EV was exhibited at the 26th Tokyo Motor Show and was designed as a box type, six seater electric car. With an overall length of 4,090mm and a height of 2,180mm, the EV developed a high reputation for being a large capacity electric vehicle and was predominantly used to transport royalty and other high importance guests on VIP factory floor visits and guides. With six seats, a cruising range of 60km and a top speed of 16km/h it is clear to see why this was the car of choice when it came to VIP floor visits and guided tours on the road.   The Hypermini – Noughties In early 2000 the next electric vehicle was released, named the Hypermini. As a two-passenger it upped the antics when it came to performance and range when compared to all of its predecessors, with the ability to reach an impressive 62mphm and travel up to 117km on a single charge.  The Hypermini was the first of its kind with cutting edge technology powered by high-tech lithium-ion battery.                                                                           The Leaf – Present The successor to the Hypermini is the more advanced, modern Nissan LEAF, which has taken the electric car market by storm in more recent years. The LEAF now produces a healthy 108bhp and 280Nm of torque, a top speed of 89mph and a 0-62 time of 11.5 seconds. With all the modern features of non- electric cars, the model shows just how far electric vehicle production has progressed in 60+ years.                                                                             The e-NV200 - Present The Nissan e-NV200 is compact, safe and powerful. With thousands of electric vehicles being sold across the globe since the 19^th century the e-NV200 boats a host of advanced technology. The Lithium-Ion batteries enables up to 106miles on a single full charge with a top speed of 76mph. Nissan’s first electric van offers a huge amount to both personal and business customers; with zero emission 100% electric vehicles charge into the future.   Visit your nearest West Way Dealership to test drive the new 100% electric LEAF or click here to view our latest offer!