Nissan is making a second attempt to electrify its portfolio. However, the Japanese deliberately do without plug-in hybrids, but rely on a very special e-power technology.
Nissan is undoubtedly one of the pioneers of electromobility. The brand has the greatest experience in electric drives. The Japanese launched the Leaf twelve years ago. The compact model was one of the first of its kind and initially encountered a scarcely existing infrastructure. Nevertheless, the Leaf has found over 577.000 customers worldwide to date - with a "satisfaction rate of 98 percent" according to the manufacturer. For years, the Leaf was the best-selling e-car ever. The model is now in its second generation.
Full throttle… um stream
A successor is already in the pipeline and should be presented at the end of 2024. It's one of those models that are part of Nissan's major restructuring. The brand is fully committed to electricity. By the end of 2023, according to the plan, each series should have at least one electrified model in each series, with mild hybrids not included. At the same time, the Japanese intend to stop making Euro7 investments in conventional engines. Pure combustion engines should only have a share of 2026 percent in Europe in 25, with a further downward trend.
The third generation of the Leaf - there is a lot to be said for adopting this name - will also be based on the Allianz CMF-EV architecture, which was developed jointly with Renault and Mitsubishi. The “Chill-out” study, which was shown last year, gave an outlook on the design of the Leaf. As is usual with dedicated platforms today, the CMF-EV also provides different battery sizes and engine outputs.
Batteries for Nissan
Nissan's first model to feature the new architecture is the Ariya, a 4,60-foot crossover that's finally due to launch this summer, with some delay. The Ariya has either a 63 or 87 kWh battery. The latter should enable a range of up to 500 kilometers. While the Ariya is rolling off the assembly line in Japan, the Leaf will come from Sunderland in the UK, which is being expanded into a huge electrical site including climate-neutral battery production.
Nissan is positioning its third CMF-EV model in the B segment. So far it is only known that it is produced together with the R5 at Renault in France. Possible name: Micra.
Also new commercial vehicles
Nissan is also consistently flipping the switch with its LCV, the Light Commercial Vehicles. They were there very early on with the eNV200. The successor to the panel van from Barcelona - the plant has now been closed - is the Townstar. The model shares the technology with the Renault Kangoo and the Mercedes Citan. All three roll off the assembly line in Maubeuge/France. By the end of this year, the Townstar should also be available as a fully electric version and as a car variant (estate) and also as an electric version.
In order to implement its plan to be able to offer an electrified model in each series by the end of 2023, Nissan is first targeting its two crossover models, the Juke and Qashqai. The Juke gets the hybrid technology from the Renault Captur. The bestseller Qashqai gets the so-called e-power drive. Nissan's strategists deliberately decided against the plug-in hybrid from Renault and Mitsubishi. No future is conceded to this technology, especially since funding is on the brink in many European countries.
Instead, Nissan builds a special solution in the Qashqai. With the e-power principle, the car is powered exclusively by electricity. A three-cylinder turbo petrol engine and a small buffer battery provide the necessary power. From the Qashqai e-Power, Nissan promises a purchase rate of around 50 percent. The expectations for the next X-Trail, which should go on sale at the end of 2022, are only slightly different. The e-power drive is also under the hood of the largest SUV in Nissan's portfolio - even combined with all-wheel drive.