Nissan recently revealed a modified vintage electric truck equipped with a Nissan Leaf motor, according to Electrek. The Electric Vehicle (EV) pickup was created by Tommy Pike Customs.
(Photo : by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 11: The wheels for the new Nissan Leaf vehicle are seen on July 11, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. The Nissan LEAF was launched in Australia on Wednesday, with Nissan's local manufacturing plant makes exclusive parts for the electric vehicle. The Nissan casting plant in Dandenong has been in operation for over 35 years, employing almost 300 people.
The vintage Nissan is a 1987 Sunny is turned into an EV that features an electric drive motor and 40 kWh lithium battery, brought by the Nissan Leaf. It is rated at 147 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque, which is twice the power and more than three times the torque of the gasoline four-cylinder engine that the Sunny originally has.
Still, it kept a piece of its history with the factory original 56A manual transmission, which is something you won't find in an electric.
The truck also has an aluminum battery box, LED lighting conversion, and a Hakosuka Skyline widebody kit. It is also equipped with heavy-duty rear lead springs and suspension as well as a custom user interface display that is designed by Clemson University ICAR.
The interior comes with TPC custom-designed and handcrafted interior with Laedana material by Tesca.
The Reason Behind the Modification
According to Nissan, the vintage electric pickup is designed to provoke, and will serve as an inspiration to how these vintage vehicles can still thrive amid electric vehicles.
The company is attempting to prove that a vintage car isn't outdated, no matter what happens. Instead, it can be re-imagined and re-imagined with a new technology that can bring the classic car to a new era.
It is also said to show that EVs can still be fun and unique if they rock the right suspension, body kits, and other exterior parts. After all, electric is not synonymous with boring.
In addition, the electric-powered vintage Nissan pickup is said to portray a modern image, while keeping the roots of the past. In doing so, the company is hoping to inspire owners of pick-ups to consider electric vehicles.
Converting Vintage Vehicles to Electric
Some may question the practicality of converting a vintage vehicle to become electric. Yet, if the electric vehicle is to be a collector's item, then the company will want to ensure that the electric drivetrain remains intact.
Nissan's attempt to preserve the electric motor of the vintage pickup is laudable. After all, people buy vintage vehicles for the look and not for the brand new drivetrain.
It is also good to know that electric drivetrains can still be used after a certain amount of time.
Still, the major problem is getting a vintage vehicle from running on gasoline to electric. The main reason is that there are no parts to do so. As far as we know, there are virtually no replacement parts for electric vehicles.
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Written by April Fowell
