| Make
|
Pininfarina |
| Model |
Nido
EV |
| Concept
year |
2010 |
| Production
year |
- |
| Engine |
electric |
The Pinfarina Nido EV is a prototype model, and the second
car in the Nido development program. The first
Nido concept was unveiled in 2004, it was used to
examine and improve crash protection in small cars. The
Nido EV adds to this with the implementation of an all-electric
drivetrain.
Designed and built entirely by the Pininfarina Style and
Engineering Centre of Cambiano (Turin). The Nido EV is
one of the first results of a program started by Pininfarina
three years ago which focused on developing sustainable
and ecologically friendly transportation.
From the outside the Nido EV looks identical to the first
petrol-powered Nido concept. Which is a good thing considering
what a great looking small car it is. In fact in 2004
it won the award for the Most Beautiful Car in the
World in the Prototypes and concept cars category.
The inside however is functional and, as you might expect
from an experimental prototype, quite bland and simple.
But Pininfarina are the first to admit that they've not
tried to make the inside nice. Yet.
The Nido EV is essentially a rolling testbed designed
to help Pininfarina experiment with the electrification
of a small city car and to develop a modular floorpan.
The body structure of this first prototype is a tubular
steel frame, while the final version will have an aluminium
space frame. The structure was designed to adapt to four
different, completely electric or hybrid vehicles: 2-seater,
2+2, pickup and light van.
Powering the Nido EV is a rear-mounted 30kW electric motor
which produces 125 Nm of torque from zero rpm. This is
fed by a Zebra Z5 Ni-NaCl battery. When fully charged
it has a 87 mile (140 km) range and a 75 mph (120km/h)
top speed. One clever feature of the Nido EV's electric
drivetrain is that unlike most battery systems, the Zebra
Z5 battery is 100 percent recyclable once it is finished.
The "Nido Development Programme" also envisages
the development of two more, slightly larger versions:
the first will be a hybrid with an endothermic engine
positioned at the front and an electrical engine at the
rear; the second will be electric with a front engine.
In both cases, the position of the engine makes it possible
to increase roominess to seat 4, and to improve weight
distribution.
Similar and related vehicles:
Pininfarina Nido
Pininfarina Eta Beta
Pininfarina B0
Source: Pininfarina |
|
