“The Leaf can be charged from flat to WorldMags.net 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes”
TRANSPORT
Eco cars evolved See how modern electric cars are stepping up a gear… Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have been around for longer than you would expect. The first examples of cars powered by electricity were in the early-19th century, and were commonplace until the internal combustion engine took over. The first examples were very basic and couldn’t be recharged. However, the modern-day BEV has evolved a lot since back then and has overcome technical difficulties that made them previously unsuitable for our roads. Charging time has always been a big issue among the motoring community where BEVs are concerned. Previous examples of BEVs have usually had charging times of around 8-12 hours from UK sockets. This time has been dramatically reduced by new technologies explored by manufacturers like Nissan with the Leaf. Indeed, the Leaf can be charged from flat to 80 per cent capacity in around 30 minutes from a special charging port. Nissan has also applied some very creative theories to improve the overall efficiency of the Leaf. For example, the front LED lights are designed to deflect airflow away from the wing mirrors. This reduces aerodynamic drag acting on the car, so that less power is needed to propel the vehicle forwards. Whereas existing BEVs have had issues with large battery packs taking up cabin space, the Nissan engineers have developed theirs to free up space. This is achieved by having the thin 24-kilowatt-hour battery pack underneath the floor. This also has the added benefits of improving handling and structural rigidity. Modern BEVs are becoming increasingly technologically advanced, with the Leaf having a dedicated app for smartphones. This can be used to start a charging session, activate climate control and to check estimated driving range information without leaving your sofa.
Eco car timeline We track the rise of electric-powered vehicles from their conception to today
070 | How It Works
1830s
Inside the new Nissan Leaf Take a look at the cutting-edge technology powering the 2013 Nissan Leaf electric car
Battery cells A total of 192 cells that are similar to your mobile phone batteries give a range of up to 200km (124mi).
Battery pack The battery pack and controller unit weighs 300kg (660lb), so is positioned as low as possible to improve handling.
Regenerative brakes The electric motor can absorb the energy usually lost as heat in braking and put it back into the batteries.
1897
1899
First electric carriage
Electric cabs
Speed record
Scotsman Robert Anderson builds and drives a basic (non-rechargeable) electric carriage.
The Pope Manufacturing Company becomes the first large-scale electric car maker, filling the NYC streets with electric taxis.
The French-built ‘La Jamais Contente’ becomes the first electric car to reach 100km/h (62mph).
WorldMags.net
1920s
Internal combustion engine By the end of the Twenties, the electric car is surpassed by combustion engines.
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