The first generation EV (EV1.0): The Japanese technology route can be characterized as following:
1. It was developed from the hybrid vehicle and therefore inherits the design logic and birthmark of hybrid vehicles.
2. Between manufacturing cost and drive range, the LEAF model chooses lower manufacturing cost and sacrifices long range, out of same design concept of hybrid vehicles. So its pure electric vehicle does not carry high capacity battery and range is within 200 km, but the overall cost of the vehicle is compressed under twice of fuel vehicl, which can be accepted and tolerated by the market.
3. The EV power output should match that of fuel counterpart. 1.6L engine has equivalence of 80 KW power output from battery. To use 20 kwh battery to drive 80kw motor, magnification type battery has to be used to achieve this capacity.
4. In this LEAF model, a small capacity battery with fast charge mode (charge up to 80% capacity in 10 minutes) to be used to compensate the weakness of short range.
This technology system depends on two factors for success: a breakthrough in fast charging within 10 minutes, and battery life long enough to match vehicle life of about 300,000 km.
After six years of research and development by Japanese automakers, they finally gave up the fast charging model. It is not technically feasible and causes too much damage to battery itself.
Nissan LEAF put 150 EV taxi vehicles on the streets in Tokyo, the drive range attenuated from 200 km to couple of dozens of km in three years. So this technology route is not successful in both key factors: fast charge and battery life.
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