▁produced ▁by ▁N iss an ▁Mot ors ▁between ▁ 1 9 9 8 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁ ▁The ▁N iss an ▁Al tra ▁was ▁introduced ▁at ▁the ▁Los ▁Angeles ▁International ▁Auto ▁Show ▁on ▁ 2 9 ▁December ▁ 1 9 9 7 . ▁ ▁N iss an ▁described ▁the ▁Al tra ▁as ▁a ▁combination ▁of ▁a ▁sedan , ▁SU V , ▁and ▁min ivan . ▁It ▁was ▁mainly ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁fleet ▁vehicle ▁for ▁companies ▁such ▁as ▁electric ▁util ities . ▁ ▁Only ▁about ▁ 2 0 0 ▁vehicles ▁were ▁ever ▁produced . ▁It ▁used ▁the ▁bod yst yle ▁of ▁the ▁N iss an ▁R ' ness a . ▁ ▁Techn olog ically , ▁the ▁Al tra ▁was ▁significant ▁as ▁being ▁the ▁first ▁production ▁electric ▁vehicle ▁to ▁use ▁a ▁l ith ium - ion ▁battery ▁ ▁( li - ion ) ▁battery . ▁ ▁N iss an ▁called ▁this ▁a ▁third - gener ation ▁battery ▁( after ▁lead – ac id ▁and ▁nick el – met al ▁hyd ride ) ▁and ▁chose ▁li - ion ▁primarily ▁for ▁its ▁power ▁density . ▁ ▁It ▁was ▁managed ▁by ▁a ▁pass ive ▁system , ▁ens uring ▁the ▁batter ies ▁never ▁reach ▁charge ▁levels ▁outside ▁their ▁recommended ▁zones . ▁ ▁The ▁Al tra ▁had ▁a ▁permanent ▁magnet ▁synchron ous ▁motor , ▁controlled ▁by ▁a ▁ 3 2 - bit ▁R IS C ▁computer . ▁ ▁It ▁had ▁other ▁more ▁typical ▁features , ▁such ▁as ▁key less ▁entry , ▁power ▁mirror s ▁and ▁windows