Mexican Media Brands
Nissan Powers Up Series Hybrid Tests in Michigan
Nissan Motor Co. has been spotted testing a hybrid version of its Note hatchback in Michigan.
#hybrid
Share
Nissan Motor Co. is testing a hybrid version of its Note hatchback in Michigan, according to recent media reports and spy photos.
The carmaker introduced the Note e-Power series hybrid model in Japan late last year. The architecture, which is similar to that of the Chevrolet Volt, teams a front axle-mounted electric motor and lithium-ion battery with a small gasoline engine.
Unlike the Volt and other so-called extended-range hybrids, the Note e-Power has no plug-in capability. Instead, the battery is charged solely by a generator powered by a 1.2-liter, 3-cylinder engine. Nissan uses the same engine to drive its March/Micra subcompact car.
Nissan says the Note e-Power’s battery is only about 5% the size of the system used in its Leaf electric vehicle, which is rated at 30 kWh. The engine runs at a constant 2,500 rpm to feed electricity to the battery.
Sales of the Note e-Power in Japan have rivaled that of Toyota Motor Corp.’s top-selling Prius hybrid. Based on that success, Nissan recently announced plans to add an e-Power version of its Serena minivan next spring in Japan.
The Note is marketed in the U.S. as the Versa Note. That vehicle is powered by a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine.
RELATED CONTENT
-
GM Develops a New Electrical Platform
GM engineers create a better electrical architecture that can handle the ever-increasing needs of vehicle systems
-
Jeeps Modified for Moab
On Easter morning in Moab, Utah, when the population of that exceedingly-hard-to-get-to town in one of the most beautiful settings on Earth has more than doubled, some people won’t be hunting for Easter eggs, but will be trying to get a good look at one of the vehicles six that Jeep has prepared for real-life, fast-feedback from the assembled at the annual Easter Jeep Safari.
-
Plastics: The Tortoise and the Hare
Plastic may not be in the news as much as some automotive materials these days, but its gram-by-gram assimilation could accelerate dramatically.
