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BusinessCar has driven the future. Well, Nissan's version of it anyway.
In just seven years' time - or well under three company cars from now - the brand hopes to have viable, commercially attractive, zero-emission fuel-cell vehicles on sale to the general public.
As part of a campaign to raise awareness of its technology, and to kick-start debate and, hopefully, development in an infrastructure, Nissan recently brought a couple of its hydrogen fuel cell-adapted X-trail development models from Japan, and handed BusinessCar the keys.
It's an odd feeling driving a silent car because unlike previous hybrids I've driven, which will just pull away at light throttle without noise, it's possible to accelerate to 50mph in the Nissan without any engine sound.
That aside, there's nothing radical about the driving experience. The power delivery is seamless because there are no gears. It's akin to driving a golf buggy - just steer and prod the accelerator or brake. But at £500,000 for each individually built vehicle, Nissan needs a 100-fold reduction in costs - 10-fold from each of manufacture and materials - to make the pioneering concept viable.
Nissan's still working on how to increase range from 250 miles, but a bigger fuel tank isn't an option. The current one sits below the rear seats and makes them almost prohibitive for adults because they've been raised to fit the tank below.
And then there's the small matter of a refuelling network. If the energy firms, who are being kept up to speed, can develop one, then a big hurdle will be overcome. But it's a 'chicken and egg' scenario of people not buying the cars until they can refuel them, and no-one investing in refuelling stations until the cars are out there. However, it worked (in the end) for LPG, so it's not insurmountable.
And that's where fleets come in. Nissan's yet to decide which vehicle will be first to launch, and has already said fleet needs will be taken into account as the business market is the more likely early adopter of such technology, especially as the cost-per-mile could be attractive. Nissan is hoping the fuel will cost around two-thirds of the price of petrol or diesel, and it should be more efficient on a litre-to-litre basis.
It's still a long way off, but Nissan is already proving a long-term gasoline-free future is nothing to be scared of, and that the manufacturers will be ready for it.
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
