The Nissan Sakura and its shut cousin, the Mitsubishi eK X, have been named the 2022/23 Japan Vehicle of the 12 months (JCOTY). Both equally the entirely-electrical Kei automobiles also went property with the K Motor vehicle of the Yr award, a car or truck category in Japan for microcars.
The Mitsubishi eK X was made and manufactured by way of the Nissan Mitsubishi Kei Car (NMKV) joint enterprise, featuring the exact same powertrain as the Sakura, albeit with unique styling. Which is not all for Nissan, as the company also bagged the Technological know-how Auto of the Yr award with its X-Trail SUV.
“With the Sakura and eK X electric Kei cars and trucks, the hurdles of EV possession at a practical rate have been decreased, rising the adoption of battery EVs in Japan. In phrases of driving general performance, the managing and efficiency surpassed traditional Kei autos,” said the JCOTY committee.
“Both the Kei cars and trucks are also outfitted with superior driver support devices, with driving support functions equivalent to luxurious cars,” they extra.
The fully-electrical Sakura and eK X are pushed by a entrance-mounted electrical motor which is powered by a 20 kWh, 350-volt lithium-ion battery mounted on the underfloor. Output is rated at 64 PS and 195 Nm of torque with a major velocity of just 130 km/h. On a entire demand, equally cars and trucks can return up to 180 km of electrical assortment primarily based on the WLTC standard.
With a 30 kW DC charger, it takes up to 40 minutes to cost them up to 80% state of charge (SoC). The Kei car’s battery can also be utilised as a mobile electricity resource in the course of unexpected emergency situations to present a day’s worthy of of energy to an average Japanese domestic.
Winners of the other types are as follows:
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