The Japanese automaker’s comeback plan hinges on its upgraded e-Energy system, which will probably be essential in protecting tempo with Toyota and Honda. Nissan guarantees its third-generation hybrid EV tech boasts extra vary at a decrease price, however there’s one main difficulty.
Nissan bets large on upgraded hybrid EV tech
Nissan is struggling to remain alive after falling behind early within the shift to electrification. With debt piling up, gross sales slumping, and a wave of latest competitors, Nissan is sounding the alarm.
Earlier this month, the corporate launched its new restoration plan, “Re:Nissan,” which incorporates chopping 20,000 jobs, or round 15% of its world workforce, by 2027. It’s additionally closing a number of factories and scrapping plans to construct a brand new EV battery plant in Japan to chop prices.
The efforts come as a part of the automaker’s pressing turnaround technique. After showcasing its upgraded e-Energy system on Sunday, Nissan stated the brand new hybrid tech will probably be extra like driving an EV.
“E-Energy is totally different as a result of it’s derived from EV know-how and drives like an EV,” Nissan’s chief know-how officer, Eiichi Akashi, defined on the occasion (by way of Auto Information).
In response to Nissan, the brand new drivetrain is cheaper, quieter, and extra environment friendly. It was additionally designed with the US, Nissan’s most necessary market, in thoughts. In response to Nissan, the brand new setup boosts gasoline financial system on the freeway by 15% and within the metropolis by 9%.
The upgraded system will debut within the upcoming fourth-gen Nissan Rogue, its bestselling car within the US, in FY2027.
Earlier than it arrives, Nissan will launch the upgraded drivetrain in different world markets, together with Europe and Japan. Later this yr, the brand new Qashqai will debut in Europe with its third-gen e-Energy drivetrain, adopted by Japan in 2026.
In response to Akashi, the brand new hybrid EV system will probably be key to Nissan’s comeback plan within the US, and the Rogue is the proper car to showcase it. Nevertheless, there’s one main flaw.
The brand new powertrain setup is extra “EV-like” because the fuel engine acts as a generator to energy the car’s battery and wheels.
Nissan stated the brand new 5-in-1 system, which mixes the motor, inverter, generator, reducer, and increaser, cuts prices and is extra environment friendly. Specifics weren’t revealed, however Shunichi Inamijima, company government for powertrain and EV applied sciences, stated it’s an over 10% enchancment in comparison with Nissan’s second-generation e-Energy system.
Though it sounds promising, the brand new tech will price greater than Nissan anticipated. When it initially launched the drive unit in 2023, Nissan stated it could allow it to supply hybrids on the identical value as its internal-combustion engine (ICE) autos.
Primarily based on Inamijima’s feedback, that can now not be the case. He stated the brand new e-Energy system will nonetheless face a value hole with cheaper gas-powered autos.
“We nonetheless wish to notice price parity as quickly as potential,” Inamijima stated. When requested when the brand new timeline can be, he responded, “No remark.”
Earlier than the fourth-gen Rogue arrives within the US, Nissan will launch the upgraded LEAF EV later this yr. It will likely be certainly one of ten new Nissan or Infiniti fashions set to reach by 2027.
In Europe, Nissan will launch the next-gen LEAF later this yr, adopted by the brand new Micra EV and Qashqai electrical crossover. The brand new Juke EV will be part of the lineup in 2026.
Electrek’s Take
Nissan’s large wager already appears to be like underwhelming. Not solely will it face lower-priced gas-powered autos, however by 2027, an inflow of latest EVs (which will even seemingly be cheaper) will probably be out there.
Whereas Nissan takes one other swing at hybrids, it might already be setting itself up for failure. Totally electrical vehicles are extra environment friendly, and as new battery and different electrical car applied sciences advance, they’ll solely turn into more and more reasonably priced.
A latest report from Japan’s MainiChi, hinted at a possible partnership with Toyota. In response to the report, a Toyota government reached out to Nissan a couple of potential partnership that might contain Toyota performing as Nissan’s “backer” whereas it restructures.
Will Nissan’s new hybrid EV drivetrain spark a comeback? Or will or not it’s too little, too late? Tell us your ideas within the feedback beneath.
Supply: Auto Information
