Nissan Effis
Effis city commuter car combines Nissan's Super Motor and Compact Lithium-ion Battery with a fuel cell stack. Effis shows one possibility for future fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) that will require an ultra-small, lightweight design. An all-new concept is incorporated in the multiconfigurable arrangement of the instrument panel and seats. This arrangement secures comfortable seating space for three occupants plus enough room for one more person. The three-meter overall length allows agile maneuverability.

The revolutionary new Super Motor is a compact, high-efficiency unit that features two output shafts, both of which can be controlled independently. Because the power obtained from the two shafts can be controlled separately, driving force can be distributed to the right and left wheels independently. On Effis, one Super Motor each is positioned in the front and rear axles to allow independent control of all four wheels for a further enhancement of dynamic performance and stability.

The adoption of Nissan's unique Compact Lithium-ion Battery with its thin, space-saving design increases packaging efficiency to achieve a smaller size and a lighter weight, attributes that are indispensable to a city commuter car.

Locating the fuel cell stack, inverter and Compact Lithium-ion Battery under the floor not only enhances interior roominess and comfort, it also contributes to optimizing the car's weight balance. The auxiliary units are housed in the front nose while the hydrogen tank is located under the rear seat, making it possible to engineer an FCV with an overall length of just three meters.

Effis embodies versatile multifunctionality resembling that of Japanese "furoshiki," or wrapping cloth. Though minimal in its original form, a furoshiki can be freely transformed in shape depending on the object to be wrapped, while always retaining its functionality regardless of how its shape is changed. Seating space for three persons plus additional room for still another occupant has been achieved within the limited overall length by adopting the "3.5 seater concept," featuring a flexibly configurable instrument panel and seating arrangements.

When the interior is configured for just one person aboard, the rotational instrument panel, which expands and retracts in an arc shape, can be pulled out for use as a rotary table that incorporates a cup holder and places for storing small items. When configured for two occupants in the front seats, the seatback of the rear seat is folded down to allow full use of the space for luggage. In the three-seater configuration, the rotational instrument panel is retracted toward the front, the passenger's seat is slid forward to allow the rear seat to be raised, and the head restraint is pulled up. This arrangement seats three adults comfortably, plus it also provides ample additional space behind the driver's seat to accommodate a fourth occupant of small stature.

Details
Make	Nissan
Model	Effis
Year Shown	2003
Event	Tokyo Motor Show
Designer(s)	n/a
Propulsion
Type	n/a
Capacity	n/a
Dimensions
Vehicle Width (mm)	1600
Vehicle Length (mm)	3000
Seating Capacity	3.5
Performance
Top Speed	n/a
0-60	n/a