Nissan e-Power 'bridges gap between ICE and EV,' to be launched in Aug.

MANILA: Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) announced that it will release its first model powered by e-Power in August. The carmaker's unique hybrid powertrain is promised to offer the benefits of an internal combustion engine (ICE) and a fully electric vehicle (EV). 

During a recent media roundtable discussion and track day event staged by NPI to showcase Nissan e-Power, the company's President Juan Manuel Hoyos said: "(The Nissan e-Power) serves as a bridge from ICE to EV. It will bring the benefits of an EV with the peace of mind of an ICE."

The Nissan e-Power is composed of an ICE, battery, and electric motors, similar to a hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV). But as opposed to an HEV whose ICE does the bulk of the work of driving the car’s wheels, Nissan’s e-Power uses the electric hardware to move the car. The ICE is only there to provide charge to the battery that powers the electric motors.

Similar to EV and HEV systems, Nissan e-Power aims to lower a car's fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The e-Power will be first seen in the Kicks mini crossover that NPI said it will introduce to the market in August. 

When asked about Nissan Philippines' timing in launching e-Power, Hoyos responded that it comes during the "transition to electrification worldwide" and to "solve range anxiety and (lack of) charging infrastructure" in the country. 

Hoyos added that the arrival of e-Power comes after its sales success in other markets and Japan, where "30% of Nissan sales are (made up by) e-Power vehicles."  

Along with the Nissan Philippines leadership, the carmaker's engineers explained further how the unique power plant works. These engineers are Akihiro Shibuya, Alliance Powertrain and EV Engineering Development Director for e-Power Strategy; and Naoki Nakada, who serves as Chief Powertrain Engineer for the Leaf and e-Power, and was a Developer for the R35 GT-R engine. 

Nakada explained that in Nissan e-Power, the gasoline engine is paired to a generator. Once the engine receives a sufficient supply of gasoline, its generator produces energy and sends it to an inverter. The inverter sends the energy to the battery and electric motors, which then drive the front wheels. 

The wheels are only driven by the electric hardware alone, "offering an EV-like driving experience," Nakada added. The engine activates only to charge the battery and prevent it from running out of charge, and assists the said inverter and motors when more power is required. 

As a result of these, the Kicks with Nissan e-Power can deliver 22 to 25kpl, Shibuya and Nakada claimed in their product presentations. As filling up the engine with fuel charges the electric hardware, there is no need to plug-in the car like a full EV, the engineers boasted. 

When asked if Nissan Philippines will introduce more e-Power models, Hoyos answered: "(We will) introduce e-Power to a key segment... mini SUV. Customers need to understand e-Power first, then we will bring in more models (after the Kicks)." 

Upon receiving the question of how can Nissan Philippines assure e-Power customers the reliability of the system, Hoyos said the company will offer a five-year warranty on the car's battery.  

Photos by Dylan Afuang 

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