Nissan Motor Co. will put its Hypermini electric car through its paces in two experimental transportation projects before the car's expected debut in February, the automaker announced Monday.
The new car is Nissan's contribution to an ongoing project in Yokohama that combines electric vehicles with an intelligent transport system. The project is being developed by the Association of Electronic Technology for Automobile Traffic and Driving.
The car will also take part in the so-called Ebina project, which is designed to introduce the park-and-ride system, where commuters park their cars in the suburbs and take trains to work to avoid urban traffic jams. The project, conducted by the Construction Ministry, is set to begin in January in Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Nissan is planning to launch the two-seat electric car in the domestic market and hopes to sell about 500 units to corporate users as well as the central and regional governments.
The environmentally friendly car weighs 840 kg and is designed for commuting in urban areas. It has a range of 115 km on a fully charged battery and can reach a maximum speed of 100 kph, the automaker said.
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