Nissan's 'e-Power' Hybrid System is a Strange Combination of Good and Evil

by Matt Posky

Published: November 2nd, 2016

nissan s e power hybrid system is a strange combination of good and evil

Nissan has created a strange new backwards working hybrid powerplant that includes an internal combustion engine but doesn’t use it to drive the wheels at all.

It’s called e-Power, it’s going to be in the Japanese-market Note first, and it’s essentially a Nissan Leaf that you don’t ever plug in. It also keeps the oil companies somewhat happy. Allow me to explain…

Traditional hybrids have an internal combustion engine supported by an electric motor that draws power from a battery. During braking the electric motor switches roles to charge the power source. However, some hybrids do offer forward momentum provided by both the ICE and electric motor — either by working together or trading on and off.

However, Nissan’s e-Powered cars don’t use the combustion engine for direct propulsion at all. Instead, the gas-powered 1.2-liter three-cylinder works as a generator to charge a battery used to power the electric motor. The electric motor provides all of the forward locomotion.

The end result delivers the better characteristics of an electric vehicle without some of the drawbacks.

The lithium-ion battery in the e-powered Note is only one-twentieth of the size of the battery on the all-electric Leaf. It’s so small that Nissan has managed to wedge it under the front seats without sacrificing much meaningful cabin space.

A vehicle equipped with e-Power doesn’t require plug-in charging. Instead, the gas motor hums along at an optimized 2,500 rpm, powering a generator that continuously charges the battery.

Conspicuously missing from this series hybrid is the fully-electric capability seen on similar vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt. Even though the battery is relatively small, you’d still expect an electrical port and the ability to do away with gasoline for limited distances. The upcoming Toyota Prius Prime offers one and, when taken advantage of, offers some all-electric driving. Of course, a smaller battery means less cost, which is key for an entry-level model like the Note.

Or, maybe Renault-Nissan just hasn’t had enough time to benefit from its Mitsubishi takeover and that company’s plug-in hybrid technology.

Regardless, Nissan suggests fuel economy ratings of the Note e-Power will remain similar the conventional hybrids currently on the market. It also promises the Note to be more of a laugh to drive. With the instantly accessible torque of an EV, Nissan is making a big deal of the system’s driving enjoyment. The Japanese marketing slogan for the e-Power is, “You’ll love it with your foot on the pedal.”

I assume they are referring to the throttle.

The Note e-Power X is listed in Japan at 1,959,120 Yen, which equates to around $19,000 U.S. — less than a base model Toyota Prius.

[Images: Nissan]

#E-Power #Hybrids #NewCars #Nissan #NissanNote #ProductPlanning #Technology

Matt Posky

A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.

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3 of 28 comments

Voyager on Nov 03, 2016

Why not have the ICE 'interface' directly with the electric motor, like Aquarius Motors from Israel and Toyota has been working on? No need for batteries, and an efficiency, reportedly, that's at least twice that with a conventional ICE propulsion. Or leave a battery big enough for 10 miles of inner city driving. That should cover most errand runs, in case the owner is too lazy to take the bicycle.

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- Scoutdude on Nov 03, 2016
  
  Sorry but no way is a ICE-generator-motor-wheels set up going to double the efficiency of a conventional system particularly if there isn't a battery involved. What you describe is pretty much what the current Accord Hybrid uses with a clutch to connect the generator and motor at higher speeds. W/o the clutch engaged the system works more or less as a CVT replacing the frictional losses with the conversion losses and then eliminating most of the losses once that clutch is engaged.
  
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Corey Lewis on Nov 03, 2016

This is just the same thing the Karma did years ago, right?

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