Nissan previews future electric vehicle tech with Bladeglider

Previously, Nissan announced it wanted the BladeGlider to be in production by 2017 but now, according to insiders, there are no-longer any plans to sell the pure-electric sports auto.

Nissan is one step closer to making its radical BladeGlider electric sports vehicle prototype, a three seater all-electric rival to the likes of the Ariel Atom, a reality.

Two BladeGliders will be presented in Rio de Janeiro in August during the Olympics.

Nissan has spent two years tweaking the vehicles, with each sitting on an advanced chassis with a narrow front track and wider rear track to enhance stability and aerodynamic efficiency. And much like the concept, Nissan pegs the BladeGlider prototype as “high performance in a revolutionary sports auto design”. The “Glide” in BladeGlider comes from the near-silent nature of the electric powertrain and the car’s aerodynamic shape.

“These prototypes epitomize Nissan’s drive to expand its Intelligent Mobility philosophy, where driving pleasure combines with environmental responsibility”.

The electric power for the BladeGlider was developed by the UK-based Williams Advanced Engineering.

Drivers and passengers access the interior via a pair of dihedral doors They sit in an open cockpit that is protected by an integrated roll-over structure.

Nissan quotes a top speed in excess of 115 miles per hour and a 0 to 60 miles per hour time of less than five seconds. The rear wheels’ drive is provided by two 130kW electric motors – one for each wheel. Nissan has used true torque vectoring, pushing more power to the wheel with the best grip as well as combatting understeer in the process, and the system has three modes: off, agile, and drift.

With each seat now featuring a four-point safety harness and grippy epoxy resin to hold occupants in place, the BladeGlider looks like it could be a futuristic Caterham 7-rival.

We know that the BladeGlider has five-module lithium-ion 220kW battery pack, but Nissan has not provided a range estimate for the prototype.

Numerous car’s controls are located on the steering wheel, which sits in front of a central display and features rear-view video screens to either side – fed by exterior cameras, for a more aerodynamic option than traditional mirrors.

To help succeed in its mobile advertisement for pure-electric cars, Nissan has built two final prototypes.

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan president and chief executive, said:”It’s an electric vehicle for car-lovers”.

Two have been created so far, both of which will debut in Rio – one on static display, and one ferrying media and VIPs over the period of the games.