Nissan will accelerate its electrification plans and by fiscal year 2030, will launch 23 new electrified models including 15 EVs. It has also unveiled four intriguing concepts.
The Japanese automaker confirmed the plans with the announcement of its Ambition 2030 long-term vision. This will also see the company become carbon neutral across the life cycle of its products by 2050.
Over the next five years, Nissan will invest 2 trillion yen to accelerate the electrification of its lineup and rate of technological innovation. No less than 20 new EV and e-POWER equipped models will be introduced in the next five years and by 2026, Nissan expects 75 per cent of its sales in Europe to be for electrified models. In Japan, it is aiming for 55 per cent of sales and in China, more than 40 per cent of sales to be electrified. As for the U.S., Nissan is targeting 40 per cent EV sales by 2030.
“The role of companies to address societal needs is increasingly heightened,” Nissan chief executive Makoto Uchida said in a statement. “With Nissan Ambition 2030, we will drive the new age of electrification, advance technologies to reduce carbon footprint and pursue new business opportunities. We want to transform Nissan to become a sustainable company that is truly needed by customers and society.”
To achieve its vision, Nissan will continue to improve its current lithium-ion battery technologies and introduce cobalt-free technology to bring battery costs down by 65 per cent by 2028. It also plans to launch an EV with solid-state batteries by 2028 and will be ready with a pilot plant in Yokohama as early as 2024. The automaker expects to bring the cost of solid-state battery packs down to $75 per kWh by 2028 and aims to achieve cost parity between with a gasoline vehicle at $65 per kWh in the future.
Nissan also intends on increasing its global battery production capacity to 52 GWh by 2026 and 130 GWh by 2030.
Four electric concepts were unveiled by Nissan during its Ambition 2030 announcement. These consist of the Nissan Chill-Out, Nissan Max-Out, Nissan Surf-Out, and Nissan Hang-Out. The first takes the form of a sleek concept using Nissan’s CMF-EV platform and has a two-tone silver and black finish. The Nissan Max-Out is very different and is a convertible concept with two seats that’s been design to “deliver a new driving experience with its superlative stability and comfort.”
Of particular interest is the Nissan Surf-Out Concept. It is an all-electric pickup truck that’s been designed to deliver good off-road performance. Last but not least is the Hang-Out Concept that’s been created as a mobile living space with a flat floor and theater-like seating.
Nissan hasn’t said if any of these concept vehicles will spawn production models.