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Could Nissan Bring Its ePower Drivetrain to Seattle?
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(Posted on Jun 27, 2018 at 01:45PM by Michelle Bogle)

nissan hybrid vehicles seattle washington

According to a recent Automotive News Europe article, Nissan Motor Corporation is considering an expansion of its ePower hybrid drivetrain to additional global markets within the next few years. The technology is currently available on the Nissan Note and Serena in Japan with the Juke soon to follow.

The extension of ePower to European markets is in response to more stringent CO2 targets and a reduced dependency on diesel fuels, which are set for 2020-2021. There is also talks of rolling out a range of fully-electric vehicles similar to the Leaf EV, but Nissan is studying other methods that would allow for partial electrification.

â€œWe can do a 48-volt mild hybrid, or we can do a plug-in hybrid, but what is most interesting right now is the success we have had with ePower technology,â€ says Ponz Pandikuthira, Vice President of Product Planning in the interview.

ePower uses a small gasoline engine to act as a range extender to charge a battery, which is especially useful in markets where charging infrastructure is weak or not widely available. It is also cheaper to produce when compared to plug-in hybrid technologies, partly because the engine is not connected to the driveline and the vehicle doesnâ€™t require 400 kg of additional battery weight. Itâ€™s a great solution for the automaker, bridging the gap between traditional diesel fuels and complex plug-in powertrains.

In the article, it was stated that Nissan plans to bring ePower to the U.S., but more likely as an option on higher-end vehicles. The technology will play a larger roll in the Infiniti lineup, come 2021.

To learn more about Nissan electric vehicles or to schedule a test drive in the currently available Leaf plug-in, contact Kirkland Nissan in Seattle, Washington, for more.