Nissan Navara EnGuard Emergency Truck Concept Utilizes Battery Packs … But Not For Driving
As a demonstration of the possibilities inherent in electric vehicles, the newly revealed Nissan Navara EnGuard emergency truck concept vehicle is quite interesting. While it doesn’t feature an electric powertrain itself, the concept vehicle does feature two lithium-ion battery packs for use as power sources.
Presumably, with further improvements to battery technologies, it will become possible to create vehicles such as the Navara that can be entirely electric — though, that isn’t the intent behind the concept vehicle.
With regard to the Navara itself, the battery packs in the concept truck can be charged through the onboard diesel engine — thus working as a power source for emergency/rescue workers in areas without power access.
Green Car Reports provides more: “The pair of battery packs are portable, and fit into special slots in the truck’s bed for storage and charging. Each one contains seven battery ‘modules’ of the same design used in the Nissan Leaf electric car. The packs includes a pair of 220-volt AC sockets and three USB ports, accommodating power equipment, as well as the likes of smartphones and tablets. Nissan considers the battery packs a safer alternative to portable generators, because they don’t require flammable fuel or produce harmful fumes.”
Again, though, it seems like it would have been a more compelling concept if it was a plug-in vehicle.
Continuing: “The pair of battery packs leave enough space in the bed for two pull-out fiberglass trays, which contain equipment like two-way radios, ropes, an axe, and a first-aid kit. The EnGuard concept is also equipped with its own drone — a DJI Phantom 4 — which is controlled from a 20.5-inch display screen mounted near the back of the bed.”
That last touch seems a bit fanciful, but could have it’s uses I suppose.
The new concept truck is a modified version of the currently available (outside of the US) Nissan NP300 Navara mid-size pickup.
Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
CleanTechnica Holiday Wish Book
Our Latest EVObsession Video
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.
