Tokyo -- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced that 20 units of its ultra-small Hypermini EV, recently supplied to the Downtown Rental car System Verification Test Project, would be put into a field trail and newly added user services would start soon under this project. The project is being promoted by the Association of Electronic Technology for Automobile Traffic and Driving (JSK) in Yokohama's Minato Mirai 21 (MM21) district (*1) with the support of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and the Japan Electric Vehicle Association. This trial involving experimental use of the Hypermini is scheduled to run January 17 to March 17. The Nissan Hypermini is a petite two-seater EV that has been developed as an optimum urban commuter car. Announced in September 1999, it is scheduled to be released in February, with sales targeted principally at national government offices and agencies, local government bodies and corporations.

The public demonstration project was launched last September by JSK, an auxiliary organization of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). It is intended to promote the development of application systems for EVs incorporating Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) technologies and the popularization of EVs by conducting experimental trials. The results will be used to build new transportation systems that emphasize environmental friendliness and user convenience. One reason why the Hypermini was chosen as an experimental vehicle for this project is that its two-seater EV design is optimally suited for short trips in urban areas. Other reasons cited include its use of a highly safe non-contact inductive charging system and its relatively long driving range.

*1:

Minato Mirai 21 (MM21) is a newly developed area in Yokohama City with many business offices, shopping centers, cultural facilities and tourist attractions. Since MM21 attracts a lot of visitors and business people, it faces a chronic shortage of parking space. This is why it is the most suitable area in which to carry out the Joint Field Demonstration Project using Nissan's Hypermini, and people concerned hope this project will serve to ease the traffic problem.

Overview of the Downtown Rental Car System Verification Test Project
With this system, the operations control center in the MM21 district uses ITS functions to detect vehicle positions and their operating status. In addition, two-way communication is carried out between the center and drivers so that suitable information can be transmitted to the vehicles. Vehicle rental and return operations are performed at unattended vehicle stations. The vehicles are fitted with a car navigation system incorporating a communications function. Information is communicated between the vehicles, operations control center and users to ensure highly efficient and convenient operation of the system.

Companies located in the MM21 district that are participating in the project as system monitors rent the vehicles for business use during on weekdays. In addition, tourists staying in hotels in the MM21 district can rent the vehicles on weekends and holidays for use in sightseeing in the nearby area.

Overview of the Hypermini
Designed as an urban commuter car, the ultra-small Hypermini EV features a dedicated body construction with seating for two passengers. The body is built around a lightweight and highly rigid aluminum spaceframe, and the vehicle is fitted with a neodymium magnet synchronous traction motor and a high-performance lithium-ion battery system. These cutting-edge technologies enable the Hypermini to provide a driving range of 115 km on a single battery charge during operation under Japan's 10-15 test mode and to attain a top speed of 100 km/h. (This driving range figure was measured in-house with the air-conditioning system turned off. The driving range will vary depending on the road conditions, the weather and other factors.)
The Hypermini adopts a non-contact inductive charging system that is safe and simple to use. The batteries can be fully recharged in approximately four hours using a compact 200-volt AC charger.

Specifications

Vehicle dimensions
Overall length x overall width x overall height	(mm)	2,665 x 1,475 x 1,550
Wheelbase	(mm)	1,890
Track, front/rear	(mm)	1,290/1,270
Vehicle weight	(kg)	840
Seating capacity		2
Performance
Minimum turning radius	(m)	3.9
Driving range on a single battery charge (under Japan's 10-15 test mode)	(km)	115 (*2)
Traction motor type		Neodymium magnet synchronous AC traction motor
Maximum power		24 kW (33 PS)
Maximum torque		130 N-m( 13.3 kg-m)
Battery
type		Lithium-ion battery
Capacity (A-h (Hr))		90 (3)
Quantity		4
Drive configuration		Rear-wheel drive
Equipment
Tire size	Front:	145/65 R14
	Rear:	165/60 R14
Suspension type, front/rear		Struts/Struts
Brakes, front/rear		Ventilated disc brakes/Disc brakes
Steering system type		Rack & pinion with power assist

*2: Range measured in-house under the specified test conditions for determining the single charge driving range

Price range: The Hypermini is priced at 4,000,000 yen with a 200-volt mount type battery charger and 4,015,000 yen with 200V-volt non-fixed battery charger.