&ltp>&ltimg alt="Nissan EV.jpg" src="/autos/autobeat/archives/Nissan EV.jpg" height="130" />&ltp&gtI just got back from first drives of Nissan's much-hyped new electric car and hybrid. The event, held in soaring heat at an advanced technology showcase 90 minutes outside Tokyo, was the first chance reporters have had to check out the Japanese automakers new environmental techs. &ltp&gtMost seemed pretty impressed at the EV pictured above, although it's hard to draw too many conclusions. The version we drove was an electric version of a Nissan Cube a popular model in Japan. However , the company says its EV, which is scheduled for a 2010 launch in Japan and the U.S. will use the same electric system but look completely different from any of today's Nissans. &ltp&gtOn the test track, the EV Cube was pretty nimble, quickly reaching 100km/h on a short straight, despite carrying four passengers. One bad point was that the batteries, weighing 300kg, were under the rear seats. That meant those seats were raised higher than normal and not comfortable for those in the back. Still, it's safe to assume that problem will have been ironed out by the time the final version appears. &ltp&gtOn a more positive note, Nissan seems very upbeat about its lithium ion batter technology. While Honda and Toyota are reluctant to use li-ion cells in new hybrids save a low volume lease version of the Prius due for 2010, citing safety concerns, Nissan is confident that its batteries, which are half the weight and offer significantly improved performance over the current nickel metal hydride cells, will help it claw back some ground in the hybrid race and make it an EV leader. &ltp&gtNissan's new hybrid also raises as many questions as it answers. Due in 2010, it will be Nissan's first mass market hybrid other than a gas-electric version of the Altima, which in any case borrows Toyota technology. The new Nissan system we tried was fitted out in an Infiniti G35 but again Nissan says this is just for test purposes. When it first appears in 2010, it will be on a different, new model. Nissan's engineers said its system, which works best for rear-wheel drive cars, has more common with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist gas-electric models than the more complex systems found in Toyotas. However, thanks to a dual clutch system, it can drive at low speeds in electric-only mode, which Hondas cannot. &ltp&gtWhether it will be a big hit, though, remains to be seen. One worry is that Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn seems more interested in EVs. At one recent press conference in Yokohama the answer to almost every question seemed to feature a mention of "emission free" electric cars. Hybrids, he said, were not. Another issue could be how Nissan uses its system. Today's test car used its 3.5 liter V6 engine, which by adding the hybrid, apparently had V8 performance levels. That's all well and good but, as Honda found with its now defunct Accord hybrid, many car buyers seem to prefer gas-elertric autos that improve fuel efficiency rather than performance. &ltp&gtWhat is clear, though, is that anyone that thought all the hype surrounding the Prius was too much should brace themselves for a renewed onslaught of green marketing. Today, as the local hands boarded a bus back to Tokyo, another load of journalists flown in from around the world alighted at the test track. That's despite the new models on show being far from complete. It was a similar story when Honda recently showed off its &lta href="http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2008/06/hollywood_gives.html"&gtFCX Clarity fuel cell car, which for all its amazing technology is unlikely to be commercialized until at least 2016. And with GM's Chevy Volt plug-in due in 2010 and a host of other carmakers, not least the &lta href="http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/jul2008/gb2008071_763199.htm"&gtJapanese, all pushing their green agendas, this is just the beginning.&ltp>&lta href="http://rss.businessweek.com/~a/bw_rss/autobeata=uZkMgN">&ltimg src="http://rss.businessweek.com/~a/bw_rss/autobeati=uZkMgN" border="0">&ltimg src="http://rss.businessweek.com/~r/bw_rss/autobeat/~4/357222108" height="1" />