Nissan turning electricity into currency in Japan

Electric Vehicles

Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors

Paying for parking by plugging in may be the new "tap here to pay". Electric vehicle drivers can now discharge battery power as payment for parking rather than directly trasferring funds from one account to another.

The Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama, Japan is designed to show the possibilities of an electrically-powered future. Inside the pavilion, the Nissan Chaya Cafe operates on power supplied by Nissan Leaf vehicles. Similar exhibits have been shown on a small scale at events in the U.S. where auto show or concert attendees can get milkshakes or coffee made using power from the Leaf.

The Nissan Pavilion is located near the company's headquarters.Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors

Attendees can also explore a virtual reality realm that lets them experience the thrill of Formula E street racing, or they can go for a ride in the just-revealed Nissan Ariya all-electric crossover. Guests are also invited to play a virtual tennis match with Grand Slam champion and Nissan brand ambassador Naomi Osaka in the Pavilion theater. Additionally, they can learn about Nissan's Invisible-to-Visible (I2V) technology, which combines information from the real and virtual worlds to assist drivers.

The 10,000-square-meter, zero-emission Pavilion is outfitted with solar panels and supplied with renewable hydroelectric power.

"The Pavilion is a place where customers can see, feel, and be inspired by our near-future vision for society and mobility," said Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida. "As the world shifts to electric mobility, EVs will be integrated into society in ways that go beyond just transportation."

Nissan Pavilion The Nissan Ariya is the company's new all-electric crossover.Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors

In addition to power coming from the sun and Leafs, the company offers Nissan Energy Share and Nissan Energy Storage technologies, which allow electricity from EV batteries to be stored, shared and repurposed, for instance by powering homes or businesses – such as the off-grid cafe in the Nissan Pavilion.

Further, in Japan the company has entered into agreements with local governments allowing Leaf vehicles to be used as mobile batteries in the event of a natural disaster. In another partnership, the company is repurposing used EV batteries to power streetlights.

Nissan Pavilion The immersive Formula E racing exhibit puts attendees behind the wheel of a race car.Photo courtesy of Nissan Motors

The Nissan Pavilion, located near the company's global headquarters in Yokohama, will be open to the public from August 1 through October 23. To take a virtual tour, visit https://www.thenissannext.com/en/virtual-tour.html.

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2023 Nissan Leaf pricing announced

Updated EV

Nissan is nearing the release of the Ariya, its first new EV in several years. Even so, the brand hasn't forgotten about its first mass-market EV, the Leaf. It was an early entrant in the space, and has been an efficient, affordable, commuter car for over a decade. The car got a mild facelift for 2023, with updated wheels and exterior styling accents. Today, Nissan announced pricing for the Leaf, which starts at just under $29,000.

2023 Nissan Leaf The Leaf feels lively, despite middling power numbers.Nissan

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ProPilot Assist comes standard for the Leaf SV Plus, and brings a full suite of advanced driver aids that include adaptive cruise control, driver alertness features, and a surround-view monitor. All Leaf models get Nissan Safety Shield 360, which includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warnings, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, automatic high beams, and rear automatic braking.

2023 Nissan Leaf The Leaf SV Plus offers up to 212 miles of range.Nissan

The new Leaf starts at $28,895, which includes a $1,095 destination charge. The Leaf SV Plus starts at $36,895. The 2023 Nissan Leaf is on sale now, and may be eligible for federal tax credits of up to $7,500. Depending on where you live, you may also be able to receive a state tax credit or other incentives.

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The Nissan Altima may not get the attention or the praise that the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord get, but it's a solid entry in an ultra-competitive segment. It's also one of few options in its class with available all-wheel drive. We spent a week with the 2022 Nissan Altima SR Midnight Edition with AWD and came away from the experience impressed. Here are three things to know about the car.

The 2022 Nissan Altima is a Good Value

With a starting price in the mid-$20,000 range and available all-wheel drive, it's hard to complain about value here. The Altima is still reasonably priced at the top end, where it maxes out at around $35,000 before options and fees. That's a great value for a spacious, comfortable car like the Altima, and with all-wheel drive it's a great all-weather commuter.

2022 Nissan Altima Nissan offers the Altima in several configurations.Nissan

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It's easy to ignore Nissan's Zero Gravity seats as another marketing buzzword, but they are legitimately comfortable and supportive in a way that not many others are. Available leather upholstery and contrast stitching give the interior an upscale feel, but even lower trims' cloth upholstery feels nice and works well from a visual standpoint. Up front, there's room for both passengers to stretch out, and the driver won't feel cramped on leg or headroom. Back-seat passengers get a similar treatment, as there's plenty of space for adults and kids. Parents will find an easy time loading and unloading car seats as well.

2023 Nissan Altima The Altima gets an update for 2023 with fresh styling and more tech.Nissan

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Nissan is refreshing the Altima for 2023 with a facelift, new tech, and better safety features. The new car will go on sale in the fall of 2022 and will come in several trims, including one with Nissan's truck VC-Turbo engine. The Altima's most noticeable update will be its front fascia, which is all-new for 2023. Nissan gives the car a fresh grille design that varies depending on the trim, and LED headlights will be standard. Nissan Safety Shield 360 is standard, and the Altima is available with all-wheel drive, ProPilot Assist, and more.

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