YOKOSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. — Nissan Motor Co. unveiled its new electric prototype Monday to be launched next year in Japan and the United States, raising the competition in electric vehicles when the market for environmentally friendly cars has already heated up with gasoline-electric hybrids.
Japan's third-largest carmaker, which has vowed to be the leader in zero-emission cars, said the new EV is a four- to five-seat hatchback boasting high-powered batteries and a cruising range of more than 160 km.
The 24-kwh laminated compact lithium-ion battery stack will be facing off against the 16-kwh stack powering Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s i-MiEV electric that was unveiled in June.