Introducing The Nido EV From Pininfarina

The Nido EV. Click to enlarge.

Leading automotive design group Pininfarina unveiled the Nido EV, the first running prototype of the “Nido Development Program”, the project for an electric car conceived, designed and built entirely by the Pininfarina Style and Engineering Centre of Cambiano (Turin). The Nido EV prototype is a designed both to explore the electrification of a small city car and to develop a modular floorpan.

The Nido EV prototype is propelled by a 30 kW, 125 N·m (92 lb-ft) synchronous permanent magnet motor powered by a 21.2 kWh, 278V Zebra Z5 Ni-NaCl battery. When fully charged, it has a range of 140 km (87 miles) and a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph), limited electronically, and accelerates 0-60 km/h in 6.7 seconds.

Interior of the prototype. Click to enlarge.

Charge time for the battery is 8 hours.

The body structure of this first prototype is a tubular steel frame, while the final version will have an aluminium space frame. The structure was designed to adapt to four different, completely electric or hybrid vehicles: 2-seater, 2+2, pickup and light van.

The Nido Development Program also envisages the development of two more, slightly larger versions: the first will be a hybrid with an engine positioned at the front and a motor at the rear; the second will be electric with a front motor.

The Nido Development Program will use an AC electrical compressor and a high voltage electric heater making it possible to implement automatic control strategies which will help to reduce consumption in most conditions.

The Program will also cover research into solutions and light-weight components with a high mechanical/electrical efficiency, and energy saving solutions (batteries with outstanding charging performance) and braking systems specifically for hybrid/electrical applications.

Pininfarina is also collaborating with the French company Bolloré on the BlueCar EV development.The BlueCar is powered by a BatScap lithium metal polymer pack.

We will continue to ‘dress’ technology, and we will offer even more industrial design services, continuing to play a key role as a design house and an innovative partner with unique skills, able to provide solutions that can translate into competitive advantage for our clients.

Consistent with our industrial plan, we will maintain our commitment to sustainable mobility, in other words both the development and production of electrical vehicles (cars and buses), and research into both alternative components and materials, and aerodynamic shapes that can help to make vehicles lighter and reduce their consumption and emissions.

—Pininfarina CEO Silvio Pietro Angori