Here is the first electric Nissan

To find the first “zero emission” vehicle from the Japanese manufacturer Nissan, we have to go back 76 years in history!

It was in 1947 that the Nissan Tama was released, a small electric vehicle offered in both 4-passenger and utility versions. In the immediate aftermath of World War II, Japan was suffering from a severe shortage of oil, goods, and food, while electricity supplies were abundant since there were almost no household appliances or industrial electrical needs. Under such conditions, with government encouragement, many electric vehicles were created by emerging automakers.

63 years before Leaf

To cope with the frequent gasoline shortages of that sad era, this small vehicle was ideal for professionals, featuring a removable rear bench seat. Its dimensions of 3 meters long, 1.2 meters wide, and 1.6 meters tall made it an extremely versatile tool, with a weight kept at 1,100 kg. The electric motor of 4.5 HP allowed the Tama to reach 35 km/h and offered a range of 96 km. The Nissan Tamas produced were used as taxis until around 1951. The model code is E4S-47 I. E for electric, 4S for 4-seater, 47 for the year, and I for the initial type. Its name “Tama” simply comes from the name of the place where the factory was located.

During the launch of the Nissan Leaf in 2010, Nissan restored many models of the Tama that had fallen into oblivion. An opportunity to realize that the most innovative aspect of this anticipation vehicle was its batteries. They were located under the floor and could be easily replaced. They had thought of everything back then…

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