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Nissan is using the Geneva motor show to reaffirm its commitment to electric motoring, showing off the dramatic next-generation Formula E racing car as it does so. Next year, Nissan will replace the Renault brand in Formula E, as it's the leading electric car maker within the Renault-Nissan Alliance.
Away from the race track, and of far more real importance, is the appearance of the IMx Kuro concept car. We've seen this concept before, but it underlines Nissan's promise to being electric power to its SUV and crossover ranges, and it's going to form the basis of an electric Qashqai-sized crossover, based on the same platform as the new Nissan Leaf.
The IMx has been updated slightly since we saw it in Tokyo last year, and it now features Nissan's 'Brain to Vehicle' tech, a sci-fi idea that apparently reads and understands a drivers' brain waves to predict what they're going to do next. The brain sends recognisable patterns of waves when it's about to instruct the hands or feet to move, and the system can sense these, and appropriately pre-set the car's systems to be ready for what's coming. That's helpful considering that it has a 320kW powertrain, and can go for a claimed 600km on one charge.
Speaking of the Leaf, it's proving something of a success for Nissan, and the Japanese car maker claims that one is being sold every 12 seconds right now. More than 19,000 orders have been placed in Europe for the new longer-range model.
As well as all that, Nissan is linking up with energy provider E-On, and the two companies plan to collaborate on smart charging systems, ones that can draw power from a plugged-in electric car at peak grid demand times, and then sell that energy back at a cheaper rate later on. They will also work on energy storage systems, and faster car chargers.
Ponz Pandikuthira, vice president, product planning, Nissan Europe, commented: "As the world's leading EV manufacturer, Nissan is committed to helping consumers and businesses create a more sustainable future for society. Through the three pillars of our Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision, we are transforming the way our customers live, move and change their sustainability footprint on the planet."
He added: "Today's announcements are the next steps to providing a fully integrated electric ecosystem aligned to Nissan Intelligent Mobility."