At the 2018 São Paulo Motor Show, Nissan revealed the Frontier Sentinel, a concept pickup truck designed by Nissan Brazil’s styling studio that will utilize two Nissan LEAF batteries. Nissan has specifically designed the concept to help with rescue missions in all types of Brazilian terrain.
The new Frontier Sentinel concept will utilize two Nissan LEAF batteries within its cargo bed area. The cargo bed, which features extra space for multiple storage drawers and additional equipment such as gloves, flashlights, helmets, ropes, axes, and toolboxes, has been adjusted accordingly to accommodate the battery packs. The top portion of the cargo bed also sports a deployable platform from which a drone can take off and land. The pickup also includes a strengthened roll bar that stretches across the sides of the cargo bed, which features more space to store rescue equipment and two power outlets.
Another impressive feature of the Frontier Sentinel is its ability to navigate deep-water crossing. The pickup is able to accomplish this feet thanks to its mounted snorkel and a special lighting system integrated on top of its windshield. The pickup’s interior sports an Electric-Yellow dashboard and central console as well.
While the Frontier Sentinel features two Nissan LEAF batteries, the concept pickup truck is not truly electric in the way one might expect. The LEAF batteries stored in the cargo bed of the pickup are not actually used to propel the truck, but are instead used to provide electricity in emergency and rescue situations. To be clear, the concept pickup is not a PHEV, but rather gas-powered Frontier that utilizes two Nissan LEAF batteries to deliver auxiliary power when needed.
While the integration of Nissan LEAF batteries into the Frontier Sentinel’s design is impressive and certainly worthy of recognition, we hope batteries found in future pickups such as this can one day be used to actually power the vehicle, rather than simply provide auxiliary power in extreme situations.
Source: Green Car Congress
