Nissan
The movement toward more EV models on the road has begun and nearly every automaker has committed to building a selection of models that we’ll love to drive in the future.
While we’ve seen a movement from the tiny compact hatchback and sedan models of the previous EVs to some sedans and even SUVs that are now more capable, it seems we’re stuck with the thought that a cabin needs to remain the classic look that we’ve experienced for a long time and have understood and accepted as the norm for the drive on the road.
Why do cabins have to stay the way they are? In an EV, the motor can be situated at the wheels, the batteries can be in the floor, and you don’t have to leave room for the engine or the transmission. Because there’s no need to have an engine up front or the transmission tunnel to be offered, interior design elements can be changed and improved to offer more comfort. Nissan has recognized this possibility and is already working on what the future of an EV interior could look like when it’s designed for one of the new models offered.
How Can the Nissan Interior Change
Without an engine up front, the cockpit can be spread to offer more vehicles that have three rows of seats, greater leg room, or more cargo capacity with ease. The floor can be completely flat which allows for greater comfort down the center of the vehicle and makes it possible for more freedom of movement around the cabin, even in a sedan that will be powered as an EV. Because an EV is simpler and offers fewer moving parts, there may even be fewer instruments needed for the driver to be able to have the information needed on the road.
Nissan has already brought a concept of what their new interiors could look like with the IMx Concept model that shows us these characteristics in one vehicle. This cabin design gives us a roomy and airy feeling with a large window that blends nicely into a woodgrain dashboard. The floor of this concept is completely flat to give the feeling of more space and offer plenty of room to place feet and items during the drive. The glass helps make this cabin one that certainly offers a wide-open feeling, but the use of space is easy to admire in this concept.
While we may not see this concept interior directly translated to the Nissan EV models of the future, the plan is to have eight new EV models offered on the market in the future which will allow Nissan to show us what interior layout makes the most sense and gives us what we’re looking for when it’s time to drive. Once we see what Nissan will add to their models, it’s likely other automakers will follow along as they realize the addition of space offered and removal of the need to have room for the components often found in gasoline-powered vehicles.
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