4 Ways Nissan’s e-4orce Technology Tries to Help EV Drivers
Nissan’s e-4orce “electric vehicle all-wheel control technology” may have a name that sounds like a team of superheroes fighting crime via Zoom meetings in this age of social distancing, but it might offer tangible benefits to drivers and passengers of future Nissan EVs like the Ariya, an all-electric SUV seemingly destined for production.
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Here are some claimed benefits of e-4orce (pronounced “e-Force”):
1. All-Electric Responsiveness
This isn’t a new invention from Nissan, but one chief advantage of an all-electric powertrain is its responsiveness to accelerator input both from a stop and in situations requiring immediate driver reaction.
“This technology offers a new level of control,” said Ryozo Hiraku, head of Nissan’s powertrain and EV engineering division, in a statement. “New for Nissan, new for EVs. E-4orce control technology is the combination of our know-how of all-wheel drive and chassis control technology, and our EV development expertise. E-4orce is not a successor of one, but an evolution of many.”
2. Improved Handling
The dual-motor technology combines with individual wheel-brake modulation to create what Nissan calls a “pleasant, smooth, predictable experience” when cornering. The system defaults to a 50/50 front/rear power distribution, but it can alter that to 100% front or rear, or a variation between, to maximize cornering grip.
3. Ride Comfort
The system also aims to improve occupant comfort by using the electric motors for chassis control. The motors can respond to braking input to reduce the pitch and dive of the vehicle, which Nissan hopes will reduce instances of motion sickness, particularly in stop-and-go traffic.
4. Enhanced Grip in Low-Traction Scenarios
Similar to how e-4orce tries to improve traction in normal conditions, Nissan aims to have it do the same when the road is slippery by directing power toward the wheels with the most grip and balancing the chassis to keep the vehicle settled. Nissan also says e-4orce will manage instances where the driver accelerates too hard for a given situation to prevent a loss of control.
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