Nissan has recently introduced its new electric drive system, called e-POWER. This is the first time that Nissan has offered e-POWER to its customers, which marks a milestone in the company’s electrification strategy under the Nissan Intelligent Mobility.
According to Nissan, e-POWER comes from the knowledge gained in the Nissan Leaf. However, the e-POWER powertrain adds a small petrol engine to charge the battery pack when needed, which eliminates the need for an external charger.
Despite having a petrol engine, drive comes purely from the electric motor. The power from the battery is sent to the e-POWER’s powertrain combinations, which is made out of a petrol engine, power generator, inverter and a motor. Nissan is keen to point out that the petrol engine only charges the battery, unlike a traditional hybrid where the engine drives the wheels. Setting itself apart from regular EVs is that in the e-POWER system, power comes from the engine and not just batteries.
In the past, electric systems like this required larger motors and battery, which made integrating into compact cars hard. The experience gained from the Nissan Leaf means that Nissan has managed to develop a more responsive motor control method whilst optimizing energy management. The end result is a smaller battery than the Nissan Leaf but being able to deliver the same experience as the Leaf.
Thanks to the electric motor, the full torque is available almost instantly. Nissan’s implementation of a petrol engine purely for charging meant that fuel efficiency is superior, especially during short commutes. This allows the driver to enjoy all benefits of an EV without range anxiety.
The Nissan Note e-POWER is the company’s first model to be fitted with this technology.
