Nissan’s Mixim Concept Car in detail

AESC is continuing the development of laminate Lithium-Ion battery technology to advance performance still further at the same time as reducing manufacturing costs.

Unlike a conventional lithium-ion battery with its bulky cylindrical cells, Nissan’s Li-Ion battery uses thin laminated cells and has fewer components overall. This boosts its power by a factor of 1.5 at the same time as halving its physical size. The cell construction, in turn, means a thin modular design is possible with a commensurate improvement in battery cooling efficiency.

Higher power outputs are also achieved through material improvements made to its lithium manganate positive electrode and carbon negative electrode.

This small yet more powerful battery also provides packaging advantages. Locating the compact cells under the floor of the car not only lowers the centre of gravity, but also permits the development of a low, flat floor with commensurate gains in interior space. Mixim uses two laminate Li-Ion batteries each developing 50 kW.

Mixim is expected to have a top speed of 180 km/h, with a potential maximum range of 250kms. Another benefit of the laminate Li-Ion battery is its quick recharging cycle: a complete re-charge will take between 20 and 40 minutes only.

Mixim might be a concept but it is a long way from being from a flight of fancy. “When we were creating Mixim, one of our major goals was for it to be seen as totally credible. By using existing technology, albeit the most advanced technology we currently have, Mixim can be seen as more than a show car,” says Bancon. “It is a serious statement of intent.”

Mixim has been created using a modified version of Nissan’s B-platform – as used by Micra, NOTE and Cube – as a base, upon which a light but immensely strong composite body has been placed.

One Super Motor electric power unit drives the front wheels of the concept while a second is housed at the back of the car to drive the rear wheels.

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