Nissan Reveals Name for U.S. Electric Vehicle

TORRANCE, Calif, -- August 25,1997 -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) announced today that it has named its production electric vehicle (EV) for the U.S. The name for the new vehicle will be the Altra EV.

The four-passenger compact van is equipped with leading-edge lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology, which offers a driving range of approximately 120 miles and acceleration performance comparable to similar-sized gasoline-powered vehicles.

The Altra EV name reflects the concept behind Nissan's EV -- a friendly high-tech vehicle for everyday life. The name, which invoked high recognition levels in consumer focus groups, projects a sophisticated, stylish image while conveying the EV's distinctive alternative energy theme.

Nissan also announced today that it has initiated a comprehensive EV testing program in the United States, including hot-weather, urban driving and marketability testing in California and Arizona. The U.S. testing program, which will utilize three Altra EVs, is a collaboration between NNA, Nissan Research and Development (NRD) and Southern California Edison.

This is a significant step forward for Nissan in bringing the Altra EV to the U.S. market," said John Schutz, Nissan Research and Development, Inc. "Our EV testing in the U.S. is critical to delivering a responsible transportation solution that accommodates the tastes and expectations of American drivers."

The Altra EV, which will be manufactured on an all-new platform at Nissan's high-quality Tochigi assembly plant in Japan, will undergo hot-weather, performance and durability testing at the Arizona Test Center in Phoenix. The Altra EV will be exposed to a broad range of performance measures, including high-speed and multi- surface trials.

In Los Angeles and San Francisco, NRD and NMC will be observing the vehicles in real-world urban driving conditions and tracking consumer perceptions of the Altra EV in a series of driver clinics and focus groups planned for this fall. Southern California Edison will be evaluating the Altra EV from a fleet management perspective with particular focus on commercial and consumer battery charging solutions.

"The Altra EV has tremendous promise," said Wendy James, manager, electric transportation division, Southern California Edison. "Nissan's energy-charged battery technology is a win-win-win solution for consumers, commercial fleets and the environment."

The Altra EV will make its North American debut at the 1998 Los Angeles Auto Show in January. Complete product, performance and design specifications will be available later this year.

Based on an agreement with the California Air Resources Board, Nissan will provide a demonstration fleet of 30 Altra EVs to a select number of California fleet users in 1998. An additional 90 demonstration units will be available to fleet users in 1999 and 2000, with retail sales beginning shortly thereafter.

Battery Technology

The Altra EV is powered by Li-ion batteries which were jointly developed by Nissan and Sony Corporation. These batteries, which are also used in high-end computers, video cameras and other consumer electronic products, achieve the high level of 90 watt-hours per kilogram as adopted for EV use; about three times the energy density of conventional lead acid batteries and more than 150 percent that of nickel-metal hydride batteries. In addition, the batteries have an exceptionally long life of approximately 1,200 charge / discharge cycles.

The battery charger will use an inductive charging system. The vehicles will have a permanent magnet synchronous motor and a new 32-bit high-speed RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) motor controller processor. The motor features a compact design, yet, it generates maximum power of 62 kilowatts, and maximum torque of 17 kilogram-meters.

In 1996, the Nissan / Sony Li-ion battery received Popular Science magazine's "Best of What's New" Award. The editors of Popular Science select I 00 out of the thousands of new products, technology developments and scientific achievements they review annually for distinction.

In North America, Nissan's operations include styling, engineering, manufacturing, sales, consumer and corporate financing, and industrial and textile equipment. Nissan in North America employs more than 20,000 people in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and generates more than 70,000 jobs through more than 1,500 Nissan and Infiniti dealerships across the continent. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissan-na.com.

CONTACT: Gina Pasco, Nissan Product & Technology PR, 310/771-3416 Bill Garlin, Nissan Product & Technology PR, 310/771-5351 Jim Olson, Lost Dog Communications, 310/338-0793 Paul Klein, SCE Corporate Communications, 818/302-7935 Or visit the Nissan Online News Bureau: www.nisswmews.com