Nissan’s Beijing Auto Show Electrifying Concepts – A Bright Future For American EVs?

Nissan’s Electric Vehicles innovated our electrified present, but new concepts from the Beijing Motor Show promise a bright future in the brand’s electric line. Could these concepts see the U.S. market in the future?

New EV Concepts

Nissan came into the Beijing Motor Show swinging. Though critics say Nissan hasn’t been competitive in the EV sphere, the company plans to deliver 30 new models worldwide in the next three years, with 16 of those vehicles being electrified. Some of these possible “very close to reality” concepts were shown in Beijing in late April. The big question is: Will these concepts ever make it to the U.S.? We’ll have to wait and see.

Nissan Epoch

The Nissan Epoch concept is an EV sedan for the modern individual, featuring a virtual (AI) personal assistant. The production version of the Nissan Epoch is expected to launch ‘within the year’.

Nissan Epic

This city-aimed SUV is very different from anything seen before in automotive design. The front headlights of the Nissan Epic display a futuristic multi-line design that looks like it belongs in a futuristic, cyberpunk piece of media. Announced features of the SUV include autonomous driving and the ability to function as a mobile power source coupled with onboard technology support for a relaxing experience.

Nissan Era

A hybrid SUV offering, the Nissan Era is a plug-in hybrid for urban lifestyles that like adventure. Current planned features include zero-gravity seats, e-4ORCE all-wheel control, and active air suspension for a comfortable ride regardless of terrain.

Nissan Evo

The second plug-in hybrid, the Nissan Evo sedan offers driver support and safety functions of the new age along with the previously mentioned AI-enhanced virtual personal assistant to take the stress off any drive.

The Future of Nissan EV

Nissan’s commitment to Electric Vehicles isn’t limited to China. In a bid to compete against Tesla and other EV brands, Nissan has announced their commitment to creating an updated battery that is “powerful, cheaper, safer, and faster to charge than lithium-ion batteries”. This solid-state battery could pioneer the future of EVs and completely change the landscape of the industry, changing out corrosive liquids for solid metals and improving the safety and performance of vehicles.

Technologies in Taiwan and stateside from Harvard have created solid-state and lithium-metal battery versions that charge under 12 minutes and have a much longer mileage range than current models. With this proverbial race for electrical superiority, it’s no surprise that Nissan has been relatively silent on the technological details of their new electrical development. That being said, Nissan expects to have these next-generation batteries by early 2029 – not a long wait when pushing the limits of automobile performance.

This delay is also important for one key reason: infrastructure. While China’s EV market is hot for new models, the North American market’s infrastructure still leaves much to be desired. Many may recall how few charging stations used to be as early as five years ago. Now, they’re not as uncommon, especially in suburban areas. A 2029 target matches with California’s plan to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine-powered vehicles by 2035, only five years from Nissan’s battery development target. Additionally, as part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, $7.5 billion in funds were directed specifically towards Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure.

What Now?

We’re a few years from seeing the Nissan EV revolution in the United States, but that doesn’t mean it’s not coming. These new developments, coupled with the growing popularity of alternative fuel means that it’s only a matter of time before we see innovation and new models that are sure to impress American consumers. Until then, visit Steven Nissan for current all-electric models such as the 2024 Nissan Ariya or the Nissan Leaf. Not ready to fully commit to the EV shockwave? We offer a variety of new and used Nissan models that fit your lifestyle!