Electric vehicles (EVs) maybe good for the environment and all, but they are certainly not without drawbacks. Some of the more pervasive complaints about them are lack of acceleration, jarring stops, and slow response times.
Nissan seeks to address all of these concerns and more with its new e-4ORCE EV all-wheel control technology.
First unveiled at the CES 2020 event last January, the e-4ORCE is designed to raise the bar for EVs on steering, cornering, braking, and overall daily driving confidence, offering “a revolutionary new all-wheel control technology” that delivers instant torque to all four wheels for a more balanced and predictable vehicle performance.
The e-4ORCE test car reaThe ‘e’ stands for electric, referring to Nissan’s 100-percent battery-powered motor drive system. The ‘4’ in the name represents the all-wheel configuration that the system is applied to.
Although tests are still ongoing, Nissan boasts that the e-4ORCE system is nearing completion. Once fully operational, e-4ORCE is expected to supplement drivers in four ways, as described by the Japanese automaker:
Superb handling
e-4ORCE control technology provides balanced chassis control, line tracing, and steering precision at all times, keeping the vehicle's behavior predictable, even during sudden maneuvers. The system constantly modulates the output of each onboard twin electric motor as well as each wheel brake control to create dependable control for the driver.
Better precision and performance
The e-4ORCE test car reacts to driver input with ultra-precision control that's three times faster than the blink of an eye. This not only provides the driver with instant, smooth acceleration; it also ensures that the control technology can handle a wide range of scenarios.
From the beginning, the advanced engineering team tasked with e-4ORCE development set comfort as a top priority. The challenge was to ensure impressive EV performance while also providing a smooth ride quality for all occupants under multiple driving scenarios
Enhanced on-road confidence
Driving on challenging surfaces, such as wet, icy or snowy roads, can be stressful for even the most seasoned driver. e-4ORCE's precision e-powertrain and braking system control ensures power is delivered to the wheels with the most grip while stabilizing vehicle motion to maintain handling control and line traceability. If the driver applies too much power, the system will manage output to ensure control and traceability is maintained, even on slippery roads.
Ryozo Hiraku, expert leader of Nissan's powertrain and EV engineering division, claims that e-4ORCE is designed to work silently in the background without disrupting the driver.
We want even first-time drivers to feel comfortable with vehicle reactions as intended in an extremely natural way, Hiraku said. Once people get used to a car with e-4ORCE, they may find it surprising to drive a car without it.
Check out how e-4ORCE performs in a controlled environment below:
Nissan installed e-4ORCE on a Leaf e+ during testing, so it’s safe to assume that future versions of Nissan’s flagship EV will carry the system. Speaking of the Leaf, it is reportedly arriving on our shores very soon. However, the date of arrival, along with the pricing, is yet to be announced.
Photos from Nissan
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