Nissan has unveiled a lunar rover prototype at its Nissan Futures event. The prototype was jointly developed with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

A lunar rover must be able to traverse the Moon's powdery, rocky and undulating terrain and be energy efficient. Furthermore, energy sources for operating vehicles in space are limited.

In order to meet this demanding brief, Nissan has applied the motor control technology it has developed through its production of mass-market electric vehicles such as the Leaf as well as the e-4orce all-wheel control technology featured on the Ariya electric crossover.

Nissan's e-4orce technology precisely controls all four wheels independently, providing the driver with confidence in various conditions.

In its joint research with JAXA, Nissan is evolving the technology to improve its performance in sandy terrain and other harsh conditions. When cars are driven in sand their wheels frequently spin and dig in, impeding progress. Nissan has developed driving-force controls that minimise the amount of wheel spin in order to reduce such energy waste.

Nissan aims to contribute to the technological evolution of automotive technology and space exploration technology by sharing knowhow gained from test-vehicle development and combining it with JAXA's knowledge of rover research.