Nissan and Williams F1 team up to create the BladeGlider concept EV

Curtis Moldrich Read more August 4, 2016

The Nissan Leaf is the world’s best-selling electric car, and when you weigh up its range, price and features, it’s easy to see why. But it’s hardly the most exciting car to look at, is it? To combat the often humdrum image of electric cars, Nissan has joined forces with the Williams F1 team to create the BladeGlider sports EV – and it’s outrageous.

Nissan and Williams F1 team up to create the BladeGlider concept EV

The BladeGlider is a fully electric three-seater sports car, and gets its power from a 220kW (268hp) lithium-ion battery. Although the Nissan weighs about the same as a BMW i3, it can still hit a top speed of 115mph, get from 0-62mph in less than five seconds, and it should be fun to drive too.

The BladeGlider uses one electric motor for each rear wheel, which means it can transfer power to where it’s needed most – or just have some fun. Nissan have given the BladeGlider a torque-vectoring system with three settings, including a drift mode.

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Nissan originally unveiled the BladeGlider in 2013, but two updated versions of the EV will be presented in Rio de Janeiro in this month. One won’t be going anywhere, but the other EV will be ferrying guests and VIPs around the Olympic park.

So what’s it even for? Nissan wants it to show just how exciting electric cars can be – and it could be onto something. “These prototypes epitomise Nissan’s drive to expand its Intelligent Mobility strategy, where driving pleasure combines with environmental responsibility,” said Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s president and CEO. “Nissan believes that car enthusiasts should look forward to a zero-emission future and BladeGlider is a perfect demonstration of that. It’s the electric vehicle for car lovers.”

While electric concepts like these are exciting to look at, and do get the public excited, I think they could do better. Nissan produces the GTR, one of the most legendary sports cars of all time. A hybrid version of that would certainly put sustainable technology on the map, and give it a much-needed makeover, too.