Nissan Motor is set to launch a new hybrid model in the U.S. that operates like a fully-electric vehicle but is powered — rather than driven — by a conventional gasoline engine.
The innovative Nissan “e-Power” is identified as a series hybrid. It employs the engine as a generator to fuel the vehicle’s electric motors that then drive the vehicle forward. Its functionality resembles emerging extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, although it features a smaller battery and eliminates the need for a plug-in charge.
This differs from a conventional hybrid, like the Toyota Prius, since the gasoline engine in those models propels the vehicle. The engine of the series hybrid merely serves to maintain the battery charge for the electric motors in the vehicles.
Nissan plans to introduce the e-Power hybrid system domestically later this year within a new iteration of its well-liked Rogue compact SUV.
The timing could prove optimal for Nissan given the rise in escalating gas prices, slower-than-anticipated acceptance of EVs, and a projected increase in hybrid sales amid new entrants, as noted by officials.
Following the loss of billions in EV investments, automakers like Nissan are reverting to hybrid vehicles to satisfy consumer demand for fuel efficiency and enhance driving performance.
S&P Global Mobility anticipates that hybrids in the U.S. this year will rise to 18.4% of new vehicle sales, an increase from 12.6% last year and 7.3% in 2023. It forecasts that pure EVs will represent 7.1% of new vehicle sales, a decrease from 8% last year.
“This represents a distinctive powertrain for the U.S.,” Kurt Rosolowsky, a vehicle evaluation and testing engineer at Nissan North America, stated during a media session. “It is an electrically driven vehicle, in terms of what powers the wheels, but it lacks a plug, and you refuel it with gasoline just like any regular car.”
Series hybrids
Nissan and other manufacturers have utilized series hybrids in other regions, specifically in Asia, but companies have hesitated to introduce these vehicles in the U.S. due to consumer expectations concerning driving feel and power.
To tackle these issues, Nissan indicated it has engineered a more robust 1.5-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine specifically for the e-Power system, alongside new packaging and additional enhancements, to cater to American consumers.
“The turbo is present solely to enhance efficiency at greater speeds, enabling the gasoline engine to provide energy,” Rosolowsky mentioned.
Discover more
The e-Power system for the U.S. market marks Nissan’s third generation of the series hybrid since its introduction in Japan in 2016. Since that time, Nissan has reported selling over 1.6 million vehicles worldwide equipped with e-Power in nearly 70 nations.
“I believe this system will perform excellently. I expect it to gain considerable popularity for Nissan in the upcoming Rogue when it launches later this year,” stated Sam Abuelsamid, market research vice president at consulting firm Telemetry.
Abuelsamid mentioned that the primary drawback of the series hybrid is its reduced efficiency at higher speeds, a challenge Nissan is attempting to address with its new engine and battery size.
Experience e-Power
Driving a European version of the Nissan Rogue Sport equipped with the e-Power system around suburban Detroit reveals superb driving dynamics — notably rapid acceleration and regenerative braking.
These come with the recognizable sound of an engine revving, yet without the shifting or hesitations typical of transmission gears, accompanied by notably reduced noise, vibration and harshness, commonly referred to as NVH in the industry.
“The driving experience truly distinguishes itself with fewer components leading to lesser noise and vibration,” Rosolowsky explained.
In contrast to conventional gas-powered vehicles, the e-Power system does not necessitate a traditional transmission to shift gears or a driveshaft that conveys torque from the transmission to the differential, subsequently driving the wheels.
While the Rogue Sport is a smaller vehicle and only features front-wheel drive, it’s easy to envision how the system will adapt to a larger vehicle with all-wheel drive, such as the new Rogue equipped with e-Power.
The absence of a plug, along with some engine noise and slight vibrations, may feel more familiar to drivers hesitant to switch to all-electric vehicles.
Although Nissan has not disclosed details such as pricing or fuel efficiency for the forthcoming Rogue with e-Power, the Rogue Sport reportedly achieved over 40 miles per gallon during intense city driving, as per the vehicle’s MPG system.
The current Nissan Rogue, based on the specific model, can exceed 30 MPG, according to the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Nissan’s vehicles historically have demonstrated lower fuel efficiency compared to those from its larger Japanese competitors. Honda Motor and Toyota Motor, the latter being a pioneer in traditional hybrids with the Prius and continuing to dominate the market in the U.S.
Nissan opted not to comment on the potential for extending the e-Power system to additional vehicles in the U.S., but confirmed that the new system is modular and capable of being integrated with various types of engines.
“If we were to extend this to other vehicles, in theory, it could be attached to another gasoline engine of varying size, providing more options for an e-Power system,” Rosolowsky stated.
