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New Japan-only Note hatchback debuts range-extending electric hybrid technology for Nissan.
Nissan has taken the covers off a new petrol/electric hybrid system that takes the idea of battery-fed electric propulsion in a new direction for the Japanese company. Known as e-Power, the system has debuted in a Japanese-market version of the five-door Note compact hatch. Its biggest point of difference from a traditional petrol/electric hybrid (known as a series hybrid) like Toyota’s Prius, for example, is the fact that its petrol engine isn’t actually connected to the car’s driving wheels. Propulsion duties are handled solely by an electric motor between the front wheels, while a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine serves simply to recharge the car’s on-board battery array, and is not connected to the driving wheels in any way.This is similar to the system that’s found aboard the BMW i3, which offers the option of a range-extending petrol engine that’s not connected to the driving wheels to charge its on-bard battery packs that feed its electric motor. The lithium ion battery packs are small enough to be hidden under the front seats of the Note, instead of under the boot floor or vertically behind the rear seats as in other hybrid cars. Nissan gives no indication of the power of the system, nor its range without petrol intervention, but it suggests a fuel economy figure of 2.7L/100km is possible. Nissan says the e-Power technology aims to provide customers with a “gateway” to 100 per cent electric cars. The brand is one of the few in the world with a consumer-ready 100 per cent electric passenger vehicle on its books in the Leaf, which has sold in relatively small numbers worldwide since its launch in 2010. Nissan has announced previously that the next generation Leaf, which isn’t expected until the next decade, will target a range of 500km, which is almost three times greater than its current ability. The company will now also be able to access additional petrol/electric hybrid technology from new stablemate Mitsubishi, as well as share technology with its current partner Renault, which also offers full EVs in Europe like the Zoe. Nissan Australia was unable to offer any insight as to whether the system will find its way into future Australian bound models. Sales of the Leaf have been modest locally, with just 42 sold so far in 2016.Nissan suggests a fuel economy figure of 2.7L/100km is possible.
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