2003 Nissan Effis - AllCarIndex

Original name: ニッサン エフィス

A new FCV commuter car concept that suits future urban life

Effis city commuter car combines Nissan's newly developed Super Motor and Compact Lithium-ion Battery with a fuel cell stack. Effis shows one possibility for future fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) that will require an ultra-small, lightweight design. An all-new concept is incorporated in the multiconfigurable arrangement of the instrument panel and seats. This arrangement secures comfortable seating space for three occupants plus enough room for one more person. The three-meter overall length allows agile maneuverability.

Nissan is vigorously researching and developing hybrid vehicles, FCVs and other next-generation powertrain system technologies that offer outstanding environmental friendliness and are focused squarely on future needs. The unique technologies embodied in Effis are some examples of the latest fruits of Nissan's R&D activities.

1. Nissan's unique technologies for a compact, high-efficiency powertrain

The revolutionary new Super Motor is a compact, high-efficiency unit that features two output shafts, both of which can be controlled independently. Because the power obtained from the two shafts can be controlled separately, driving force can be distributed to the right and left wheels independently. On Effis, one Super Motor each is positioned in the front and rear axles to allow independent control of all four wheels for a further enhancement of dynamic performance and stability.

The adoption of Nissan's unique Compact Lithium-ion Battery with its thin, space-saving design increases packaging efficiency to achieve a smaller size and a lighter weight, attributes that are indispensable to a city commuter car.

Locating the fuel cell stack, inverter and Compact Lithium-ion Battery under the floor not only enhances interior roominess and comfort, it also contributes to optimizing the car's weight balance. The auxiliary units are housed in the front nose while the hydrogen tank is located under the rear seat, making it possible to engineer an FCV with an overall length of just three meters.

(Further details about the Super Motor and the Compact Lithium-ion Battery are given in the Environmental Efforts section.)

2. Minimalist commuter car design focused on future urban life

(1) "3.5 seater concept" that is freely adaptable to various urban life needs

Effis embodies versatile multifunctionality resembling that of Japanese "furoshiki," or wrapping cloth. Though minimal in its original form, a furoshiki can be freely transformed in shape depending on the object to be wrapped, while always retaining its functionality regardless of how its shape is changed. Seating space for three persons plus additional room for still another occupant has been achieved within the limited overall length by adopting the "3.5 seater concept," featuring a flexibly configurable instrument panel and seating arrangements.

When the interior is configured for just one person aboard, the rotational instrument panel, which expands and retracts in an arc shape, can be pulled out for use as a rotary table that incorporates a cup holder and places for storing small items. When configured for two occupants in the front seats, the seatback of the rear seat is folded down to allow full use of the space for luggage. In the three-seater configuration, the rotational instrument panel is retracted toward the front, the passenger's seat is slid forward (maximum travel of 240 mm) to allow the rear seat to be raised, and the head restraint is pulled up. This arrangement seats three adults comfortably, plus it also provides ample additional space behind the driver's seat to accommodate a fourth occupant of small stature.

The steering wheel incorporates a mechanism for tilting it upward, which expands the effective space of the driver's seat and also allows the driver to enter easily from the passenger's side.

(2) Lightweight body and seats incorporating state-of-the-art technologies

One of the notable features of Effis is the extensive application of aluminum and plastic to the body as weight reduction technologies. The body panels adopt electrolitically colored aluminum. This technology for coloring aluminum combines a chemical surface treatment with dyeing, rather than using paint that would increase the weight. The body features flexible application of coloring to accentuate the perceived quality of the metal itself.

As a result of thoroughly considering convenience of use in urban life and vehicle weight reductions, Effis is built with one driver-side door, two double-hinged doors on the passenger's side and only an openable glass hatch at the rear. The passenger-side rear door provides access to the rear seat and is also used for loading and unloading cargo.

The front seats are manufactured in an integrated molding process by injecting foamed resin into the mold in which the frame has already been placed. This material provides a pleasant tactile sensation without requiring any covering, while also achieving a lighter weight and high recyclability.

SOURCE: Nissan