Nissan commits to electric-only cars in Europe; steps up electrification targets

Nissan has announced its plans to achieve 100 percent EV sales in Europe by 2030, with all new models to be introduced in the European market from now to be all-electric. One of the early pioneers of battery-electric cars in Europe (with Nissan Leaf launched in 2010), the company claims that its capability to design, engineer and build vehicles in the UK will help its drive towards carbon neutrality at the global level. 

Under 'Nissan Ambition 2030', Japanese brand will be introducing 27 electrified vehicles, including 19 EVs, by 2030 in global markets. The company has already confirmed two new electric models for Europe, including an all-new compact electric car to replace the Nissan Micra entry-level hatchback. The other EV will be part of the £1bn 'EV36Zero' project to be built at Nissan's UK plant in Sunderland. 

"EV is the ultimate mobility solution. More than a million customers have already joined our journey and experienced the fun of a Nissan electric vehicle, and there is no turning back now," said Makoto Uchida, Nissan President and CEO.

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He further added, "EVs powered by renewables are key to us achieving carbon neutrality, which is central to our Ambition 2030 vision. Nissan will make the switch to full electric by 2030 in Europe - we believe it is the right thing to do for our business, our customers and for the planet."

A third of the million-plus Nissan EVs sold around the world have been in Europe, with the Nissan Ariya and the Townstar van beign the latest all-electric vehicles to hit the market. Today, EVs represent 16 percent of Nissan's total sales in Europe, part of a total electrified sales mix of 50 percent, which in the coming three years is expected to rise to 98 percent, the company claims.

Moreover, the automaker has also thrown some light on its EV battery strategy this time. Nissan has revealed plans to introduce cobalt-free technology to bring down the cost of EV batteries by 65 percent by 2028.

Around the same year, the company aims to launch EVs with its proprietary all-solid-state batteries (ASSB). With the introduction of breakthrough ASSB, Nissan believes that it will be able to expand its EV offerings across segments and offer more dynamic performance.

Nissan's ASSBs will make EVs more efficient and accessible by reducing charging time to one-third and bring down the cost of battery packs down to $75 per kWh by fiscal year 2028, Nissan adds. To achieve cost parity between EV and gasoline vehicles, the company further aims to aims to bring it further down to $65 per kWh in future.