If the TeRRA FCV concept drives as interesting as it looks, Nissan has another winner long before a consumer marketing plan has even been considered.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - Sept. 18, 2012
Meet the TeRRA FCV with a techno beat … The concept debuts Nissan’s latest H2 fuel cell.
OK, so it needs a little work on the front end but the profile is energizing!
The Nissan TeRRA SUV concept combines the 4WD SUV with an EV.
A bit “Conceptish”
The door panel is a mating of blond wood trim and colored acrylic, layered in an intriguing pattern. The wood/metal contrast continues across the dashboard, a beech wood-acrylic mix. On the driver's side, the steering and instrument console gently tapers out toward the driver.
The instrument cluster is an electronic tablet that serves as an "intelligent key." The driver docks it when entering the car and removes it when leaving. When docked, the tablet's default view displays speed and other key indicators. But the driver can toggle to entertainment, communications, navigation and other views.
Fold the three passenger seats down and the TeRRA offers up a completely flat load floor for carrying bikes, kayaks or assemble-yourself furniture from IKEA.
Drivetrain
While the TeRRA is currently a design concept, its proposed 4x4 fuel cell electric powertrain is “Shovel Ready”.
Powering the front wheels is the LEAF’s propulsion system. In each back wheel, in-wheel electric motors based on the PIVO prototype(s) provide the motive force. With no drive shafts to the rear wheels, there is no hump in the cabin floor or underbody. This allows for the flat cabin deck and the flat and aero tuned underbody.
Under the hood is Nissan's proprietary hydrogen fuel cell stack: a flat, highly compact unit that features world-leading power density of 2.5kW/L. The latest in a series of Nissan fuel cells since 1996, the stack costs just one-sixth of its 2005 predecessor as the need for expensive precious metals has been slashed to one-quarter of the previous level.
Paris
Nissan is showcasing the TeRRa and an array of vehicles that offer a glimpse of what Nissan’s future may hold.
With continued growth in Europe in the face of an economic collapse in some countries, Nissan sales through the end of July showed an increase of 5 percent over 2011. In August, Nissan sales increased by 3.1% versus 2011, despite a 4.7% drop in overall customer demand in Europe. The company is investing big on the European Continent as it expands its manufacturing capacity in the UK, Spain and Russia.
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