For more than 70 years, Nissan has been making electric cars. Yes, you read that right; while it might seem like Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a purely modern concept, in reality, they have been around in one form or another for decades. While EVs have only recently become incredibly efficient and supported with huge networks of charging stations, Nissan has been working on these models for generations. If you are looking for a Louisville electric car dealer, then shopping with us here at Coyle Nissan is the perfect way to ensure you get a fantastic EV.
At Coyle Nissan, we are incredibly pleased to offer the full Nissan lineup, which has included some of the most innovative and exciting EV models for many years. Nissan is well known for its reliable vehicles that deliver impressive performance you can count on for many years, and their growing lineup of EVs is no exception to this. Since they have been developing and experimenting with EV models for more than 70 years, it is no surprise that they know what they are doing at this point and offer some of the most impressive EVs on the road. Come visit us at Coyle Nissan to learn more, and let us show you everything Nissan has to offer.
With EVs becoming increasingly popular over the last decade or so, it is easy to think that they have only recently been in development. In reality, however, Nissan has been working on and creating EVs for more than 70 years. While their earliest EVs certainly fell short of the kind of performance and range that their modern models can deliver, they were still fully functional.
The roots of the Nissan EV legacy go back to World War II, in particular the post-war era when fuel was scarce. In response to this, Nissan developed its first EV model in 1947: the Tama Electric Vehicle, which was equipped with lead batteries. This beauty was mostly used by taxi companies for public transportation and had a range of about 40 miles – a far cry from modern EV standards. Still, when you consider that these were made more than 70 years ago, it was an impressive feat at the time.
Nissan’s first EV was quite successful, but by 1950, the oil supply for Japan was much more stable, so the Tama Electric Vehicle was discontinued. But even though they could support internal combustion engines going forward, they never fully abandoned the idea of EVs. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Nissan focused on conventional engines as they built their brand and began to spread throughout the world, finding a great deal of popularity in the US.
In 1970, however, Nissan showed off an EV concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show called the 315X, which was followed a few years later in 1973 by a compact truck powered by a lead-acid battery. Nissan introduced a series of concept vehicles throughout the early 1980s, including the March EV in 1983 and the EV Guide-II in 1985, which was used as the basis for the Nissan EV Resort – an EV that was sold to resorts for short trips around hotels. They also helped develop an EV garbage collecting truck that was used in some parts of Japan in the late 1980s.
The 1990s were a period of continued development and experimentation with concept cars shown off throughout the early '90s. Nissan sold the 1994 Avenir EV mostly to power companies, providing them with vehicles they could easily use to get around power plants, along with several other models. In 1996, they revealed the Prairie Joy EV, which was the world’s first EV to use cylindrical-type lithium-ion batteries. It was primarily used by Japan’s National Institute of Polar Research, where they were driven by Arctic researchers for six years without a single breakdown.
Few other car companies can match Nissan for the number of concept vehicles and designs they developed for EVs in the early 2000s. These included the adorable PIVO and PIVO 2 concepts, as well as more conventional vehicle designs. Their work culminated in 2009 with the unveiling of the Nissan LEAF, which was their first mass-market EV model.
Now, more than a decade later, the LEAF remains one of the most popular and affordable EV models on the market, and Nissan is releasing a new generation of electric vehicles, starting with the all-new ARIYA. With more than 70 years of experience behind its design, it is easy to see why Nissan has constantly been innovating and developing exciting new technology. But all of these electric cars were only the beginning, and the future of Nissan’s lineup will become increasingly tied to their bold and impressive EV models.
While Nissan has an impressive history of developing electric vehicles, the company is not content to simply rest on their laurels; they have continued to work on new and even more exciting EV options. This has resulted in the all-new Nissan ARIYA, an exquisite all-electric crossover SUV that is going to redefine what we expect from mainstream EVs. Much like gasoline-powered SUVs, two-wheel drive is standard, and an exciting new e-4ORCE all-wheel drive option is also available.
There are two different battery options for the ARIYA: a standard 66 kWh battery pack or a long-range 91 kWh battery. You can combine either battery with the two-wheel drive or all-wheel drive motor configuration. Although we do not yet have all of the final specs for the ARIYA, Nissan has estimated that the long-range option will be able to travel more than 300 miles on a full charge. Adding to the convenience of owning an EV, it will have support for numerous types of charging at home or on the road. From easy charging at any common power outlet to lightning-fast charging at public DC charging stations, you will have plenty of options wherever you go.
The interior of the ARIYA is spacious and incredibly comfortable, with a pair of 12-inch displays up front for the driver’s instrument cluster and the vehicle’s infotainment system. For an even more futuristic feel, Nissan has also replaced most of the vehicle’s controls with unique haptic feedback touch-buttons hidden in the wood-grain trim. These give visual, audible, and tactile feedback when pressed while remaining out of sight when not in use. Inside and out, the ARIYA is a beautiful model that represents the future of the Nissan brand.
As you can see, the Nissan legacy for EV development is impressive in its own right and lives on in some of the best all-electric models on the road. This gives you a great deal of freedom when shopping for a new or used EV model from Nissan, with the peace of mind that comes from knowing you will get to enjoy their legendary reliability and performance. Whether you know just what you are looking for or you still have a lot of questions, we are ready to help with friendly and knowledgeable salespeople who will make sure you get exactly what you need.
Nissan has given us a lot to look forward to when it comes to EV technology in the coming years, and we are certainly ready to adapt to whatever amazing vehicles they make. If you want to find the perfect EV and people who will be able to help you smoothly transition to the electric life, then Coyle Nissan is the place to be. Call or come visit us today to learn more and let us show you our full selection of Nissan EV models.
