One of the most anticipated aspects of the Los Angeles Auto Show is the Design Challenge, where automakers flex their creative muscles and compete to conceive the ultimate concept that best matches a set of predetermined parameters. At the 2010 show, automakers were to make a concept that was stylish, engaging to drive, easy on the environment, and weighed no more than 1,000 pounds.
While all automakers brought interesting concepts to the table, the Nissan iV was especially intriguing. The iV is a high-performance, and super lightweight, electric vehicle. Its biopolymer frame is reinforced with spider silk and its canopy collects solar energy. Powering the iV is a slim battery that provides a near limit-less range thanks to regenerative super-capacitor technology that recoups 60% of kinetic energy spent. The vehicle’s hub-less in-wheel motors not only propel the iV, they do triple-duty by functioning as the vehicle’s steering as well as its suspension system, via magnetic levitation and propulsion.
Sure the Nissan iV is a bit far-fetched, but the idea of a super agile sports car that provides zero-guilt when it comes to its environmental impact is certainly attractive. Check out the video below for a closer look at Nissan’s vision of a zero-emissions future.
