Nissan's electric vehicle for U.S.

TOCHIGI, Japan: Nissan Motor Co plans to begin exporting early next year a roomy, four-passenger electric wagon powered by a 362kg battery to the United States.

The Altra EV will be the first electric vehicle available in the U.S. propelled by lithium-ion batteries, the same technology used in laptop computers and video recorders.

"Altra EV is a significant step forward in bringing emissions- free transportation to American consumers," said Nissan U.S. vice president Tom Eastwood.

"It's a sophisticated real-world solution for today's environmentally conscious consumer." Nissan says the lithium-ion batteries, developed jointly with Sony Corp, deliver a maximum driving range of 200km.

That tops EVs powered by conventional lead-acid and nickel- metal hybrid batteries now on the market. Saturn Corp's EV-1, for instance, is rated at 120km to 150km between charges. Recharging time is five hours.

The motor generates 62kW. That's enough to zip Altra from zero to 85kmh in less than 12 seconds. Top speed is 130kmh. Nissan says it costs less than 2 U.S. cents a mile to operate. After a public debut at the Los Angeles auto show in January, Nissan will begin providing 30 Altra EVs to California utilities and other fleet customers next year.

Another 90 vehicles will be delivered in 1999, under an agreement with the California Air Resources Board to meet clean air rules. Nissan says pricing will be competitive with existing electric vehicles for lease in California and Arizona, which range from $399 to $455 a month.