Nissan Hypermini
Encyclopedia
The Hypermini is a two-seater electric car
produced by Nissan Motors
. It was introduced in a limited way in Japan
in 1999. It was launched for retail sale through Nissan dealers in the greater Tokyo
, Osaka
, and Kyoto
metropolitan areas in February 2000, priced at 4,000,000 yen (~US$ 36,567) with a 200-volt mount-type battery charger and 4,015,000 yen with 200 volt
non-fixed battery charger. Sales were targeted principally at national government offices and agencies, local government bodies and corporations. Nissan claims the Hypermini consumes a quarter the energy of a typical car.
It is a two-passenger EV (electric vehicle) that can go 100 km/h (62 mph) and travel about 115 kilometres (71.5 mi) on a single charge, according to Nissan's measurements made under Japan's 10-15 test mode. The Hypermini won the fourth annual "New Energy Grand Prize." The prize is sponsored by the New Energy Foundation which is associated with Japan's Ministry of International Trade & Industry.
space frame
chassis made of extruded aluminium pipe, aluminium stampings, and aluminium castings. Panels are plastic.
The front Suspension
has independent struts; the rear suspension has independent parallel-link struts. Brakes (front / rear) are ventilated discs with anti-lock system. Stock Tyres are of the run-flat type, measuring 145/65 R14 at the front and at the rear, 165/60 R14. Its turning circle is 7.8 metres (25.6 ft) and its drag coefficient
is 0.30. It came with an electric automatic air-conditioner with pre-cool and pre-heat enabling the driver to get the cabin temperature to the desired level before climbing behind the wheel.
Its lithium-ion batteries are located under the floor and are recharged inductively
. The non-contact charging system utilizes a plastic paddle with a built-in coil that generates a high frequency magnetic field. A portable battery charger can be stored on board, enabling batteries to be charged anywhere an ordinary electric outlet can be found. Nissan estimated that Hypermini could be operated at one-fifth the cost of a gasoline-powered vehicle.
at UC Davis (15) & city council of Pasadena
(11).
15 small Nissan Hypermini vehicles went into service 7 November 2001 in a research program at the University of California, Davis. Nissan is involved in three car-sharing programs using Hyperminis in Japan. About 120 Hyperminis have been sold to support these programs in the cities of Kyoto, Ebina and Yokohama
. City officials and private citizens are using the vehicles.
Nissan took 11 Hypermini August 2006 vehicles back from city council of Pasadena, California after leases expired, stating "Nissan says it no longer makes the Hypermini and can't maintain the cars". Publicly owned examples can sometimes be found for sale in Japan.
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
produced by Nissan Motors
Nissan Motors
, usually shortened to Nissan , is a multinational automaker headquartered in Japan. It was a core member of the Nissan Group, but has become more independent after its restructuring under Carlos Ghosn ....
. It was introduced in a limited way in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1999. It was launched for retail sale through Nissan dealers in the greater Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, and Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
metropolitan areas in February 2000, priced at 4,000,000 yen (~US$ 36,567) with a 200-volt mount-type battery charger and 4,015,000 yen with 200 volt
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
non-fixed battery charger. Sales were targeted principally at national government offices and agencies, local government bodies and corporations. Nissan claims the Hypermini consumes a quarter the energy of a typical car.
It is a two-passenger EV (electric vehicle) that can go 100 km/h (62 mph) and travel about 115 kilometres (71.5 mi) on a single charge, according to Nissan's measurements made under Japan's 10-15 test mode. The Hypermini won the fourth annual "New Energy Grand Prize." The prize is sponsored by the New Energy Foundation which is associated with Japan's Ministry of International Trade & Industry.
Features
It features an aluminiumAluminium
Aluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
space frame
Space frame
A space frame or space structure is a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. Space frames can be used to span large areas with few interior supports...
chassis made of extruded aluminium pipe, aluminium stampings, and aluminium castings. Panels are plastic.
The front Suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
has independent struts; the rear suspension has independent parallel-link struts. Brakes (front / rear) are ventilated discs with anti-lock system. Stock Tyres are of the run-flat type, measuring 145/65 R14 at the front and at the rear, 165/60 R14. Its turning circle is 7.8 metres (25.6 ft) and its drag coefficient
Drag coefficient
In fluid dynamics, the drag coefficient is a dimensionless quantity that is used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment such as air or water. It is used in the drag equation, where a lower drag coefficient indicates the object will have less aerodynamic or...
is 0.30. It came with an electric automatic air-conditioner with pre-cool and pre-heat enabling the driver to get the cabin temperature to the desired level before climbing behind the wheel.
Its lithium-ion batteries are located under the floor and are recharged inductively
Inductive charging
Inductive charging uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects. This is usually done with a charging station. Energy is sent through inductive coupling to an electrical device, which then can use that energy to charge batteries....
. The non-contact charging system utilizes a plastic paddle with a built-in coil that generates a high frequency magnetic field. A portable battery charger can be stored on board, enabling batteries to be charged anywhere an ordinary electric outlet can be found. Nissan estimated that Hypermini could be operated at one-fifth the cost of a gasoline-powered vehicle.
Numbers produced and in existence
Production versions were trialed in the Japanese cities of Kyoto (138), Yokohama (20), Ebina (15) & Tokyo (20), and in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
at UC Davis (15) & city council of Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
(11).
15 small Nissan Hypermini vehicles went into service 7 November 2001 in a research program at the University of California, Davis. Nissan is involved in three car-sharing programs using Hyperminis in Japan. About 120 Hyperminis have been sold to support these programs in the cities of Kyoto, Ebina and Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
. City officials and private citizens are using the vehicles.
Nissan took 11 Hypermini August 2006 vehicles back from city council of Pasadena, California after leases expired, stating "Nissan says it no longer makes the Hypermini and can't maintain the cars". Publicly owned examples can sometimes be found for sale in Japan.