Comments on: Nissan Proposes its Electric Car Concept: the Mixim

By: Dave G

Dave G — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 11:27:20 +0000

A pure Electric Vehicle (EV) is not that interesting. The Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is the future.

However, it’s interesting to see a prototype car with electric all-wheel drive (AWD). In the future, I would expect to see a small SUV or CUV PHEV with AWD (need more acronyms here).

Does anyone know how this works? Are the 2 electric motors connected directly to the axles, or are there 2 small drive-shafts with gears for each axle? Is each electric motor 1/2 the total horse-power? How much would it cost to add AWD to a PHEV?

Also, how would this affect the interior design? Where would the rear motor go?

By: Jack the R

Jack the R — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:04:21 +0000

This should shut up all the people who said the Volt was ugly.

I agree with Nick D that it’s an attractive design for the pure electric car world, but that’s really not saying much at all.

I think it’s just a marketting stunt to polish Nissan’s image as a “green” automaker, with zero chance of production.

By: Matt986

Matt986 — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:28:22 +0000

I think it looks kinda cool. However, I think doing too many things out of what is acceptable in the design of a car may not be well received. In this concept, it might be the 1+2 seating, or the controls.

Like in the Volt, I don’t see the steering wheel and instrument cluster as something that would be commonly accepted. I’d prefer a more traditional leather wrapped steering wheel with a more conventional type instrument cluster layout.

WRT a Nissan EV, or a more advanced Honda hybrid, and PHEV Prius’, and the Volt. Competition is GOOD. It helps keep prices down. Also more use of battery technology will increase manufacturing base, which can drive prices down.

By: Nick D

Nick D — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:37:56 +0000

I like it – looks better than a Corbin Sparow or commutacar of the 80′s or even the tango in my opinion. For a straight EV commuter this is one of the better concepts i have seen.

By: Steven B

Steven B — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:02:51 +0000

I don’t get it. What’s the deal with this car? I doubt that the seating design would be used anywhere, ever. It also sounds like Nissan has come out with this concept to compete with Volt concept, largely ignoring that the Volt is intended to be more than a concept. There is definitely a future for EV’s due to the recent advances in technology and changing economics of driving, but it seems like Nissan is just trying to have fun with it, forgetting that they have an obligation to shareholders to develop something marketable. And on top of all of that, it doesn’t even look like a car. It’s like the hideous clothes that sometimes come out on supermodels at fashion shows that even make the supermodels look ugly. You don’t know what’s even supposed to be, and it’s just plain wierd. I guess this concept is supposed to continue evolving into something drivable. Who knows.