Electric City Commuter Concepts

Nissan has developed electrified concept cars for city commuters since the 1970s. Dedicated to creating exciting, innovative zero-emission mobility solutions, Nissan has designed these cars with urban environments in mind to meet the needs of city dwellers now and tomorrow.


1970: Nissan 315X

Nissan exhibited the 315X 2-seater at the Tokyo Motor Show. The all-electric concept car featured a mid-mounted lead-acid battery under the floor, an advanced regenerative braking system and a variable acceleration controller.


1983: Nissan March EV

The Nissan March EV was the first experimental electric car to adopt an innovative electric propulsion system with an induction motor and two-speed electromagnetic transmission. As a result, the battery yielded a range of 160 kilometers at a constant speed of 40 kph.


1995: FEV II

FEV stood for “ future electric vehicle.” The FEV II was Nissan’s first concept car to use lithium-ion batteries, which were under research and development and promised the benefits of high density, light weight and long battery life.


1997: Hypermini

Nissan's ultra compact concept EV was put into limited production in 1999 and 2001.  The model’s lithium-ion batteries offered a range of about 114 kilometers on a single charge. The electric motor would take the tiny two-seater to a maximum speed of 62 mph.


2007: Nissan PIVO 2

The PIVO 2 took the idea of an environmentally friendly electric urban commuter car and added fun, functionality and a unique relationship between car and driver. The concept model was powered by advanced compact lithium-ion batteries and employed “by- wire” technologies for braking and steering . It featured a unique rotating cabin, meaning no reverse gear was required.


2008: Nissan NUVU 

The Nissan NUVU (“new view ”) was a prototype of a 100 % electric car with a laminated lithium-ion battery. It included many technologies that would later go into the Nissan LEAF. The NUVU was an ingenious representation of Nissan’s ecological vision, including solar panels across the glass roof and the use of organic and recycled materials inside the cabin.


2011: Nissan PIVO 3

Building on the pioneering PIVO 1 and PIVO 2, the PIVO 3 concept car moved from the realm of imagination into a fully evolved vehicle that envisioned life in the cities of tomorrow. Whereas the PIVO 2 was a highly innovative vehicle that stood alone as a concept car, the PIVO 3 evolved in the direction of “smart community” – with greater feasibility  and credibility, and an extended scope of mobile performance.


2015: Nissan Teatro for Dayz  

Designed for the digital native generation, this vision of near-future vehicles departed from convention . Built on Nissan's EV technology, the Teatro for Dayz was a concept car that can be a mobile device for occupants interested in creating, connecting and sharing.


Come see what Nissan will put on display at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show!