Nissan EV test car comes with twin-motor all-wheel control technology

Auto major Nissan has revealed a high-power, twin-motor all-wheel-control test car equipped with new technologies being developed for the company’s next generation of EVs.

The vehicle is based on the100% electric Nissan Leaf e+ and it features an enhanced all-wheel drive system powered by front and rear high-power motors integrated with chassis control technology that has again been developed by Nissan. This new technology featuring an electric-drive all-wheel-control system is bound to take the performance of Nissan’s electric cars to a new level.

“Soon, Nissan will launch a next-generation EV that will be a true breakthrough,” said Takao Asami, senior vice president for research and advanced engineering at Nissan, adding that, “The new electric-drive four-wheel-control technology now being developed integrates Nissan’s electric propulsion and 4WD control technologies with our chassis control technology to achieve a huge leap in acceleration, cornering and braking performance, on par with the latest sports cars.”

Smooth high-output twin-motor drive

Using separate front and rear electric motors, the powertrain generates approximately 304hp (227 kilowatts) of maximum output and 680 Nm of maximum torque. This output is complemented by the ultra-high-precision motor control provided by Nissan’s advanced EV technology. This results in a highly responsive, yet uncommonly smooth, acceleration.

Drivers can benefit from the all-wheel-control system on nearly any road condition, heightening driving performance and confidence. The test car’s precision control ensures that the vehicle pitch and dive are minimised by adding regenerative rear motor braking to the usual front motor regenerative braking. When slowing down on city streets, for example, this helps keep passengers from being shaken back and forth. This reduces the potential for motion sickness and related discomfort. Similarly, on rough, bumpy roads and when accelerating, motor control is optimized to maintain ride comfort by minimizing irregular movement.

Independent brake control

In addition to optimizing front and rear torque allocation, the system applies independent brake control at each of the four wheels to maximise the cornering force generated by each tyre. This lets drivers enjoy cornering that faithfully follows their intentions with minimal steering.

Despite being a test car with technology hidden inside, the bespoke exterior effectively communicates the advanced Nissan Intelligent Mobility technology within, and creates excitement for the new era of Nissan EV technology. Fitted with overfenders and rally style wheels, this test car confirms it’s ready to take on the most punishing of road conditions.

Inside, the test car sports a 12.3 inch display mounted in the centre of the instrument panel that reports, in real-time, information on the vehicle control technology via a polished graphic interface. With the custom display, the driver can better understand vehicle movement, and judge the all-wheel-control technology’s performance at a glance.