Featured Nissan Note e-Power hybrid

So where do I stow my pistols?

Bob Wilson

 

In your cupholder.

Or if you need that for a cup.

 

sounds like this car is a non starter.

 

Those pistols would fix the windows.

Bob Wilson

 

what is the point of this car? even the author drifts away to the leaf after a minute of writing.

 

This article provides a little more detail (and one photo) than the Autoblog one.

Nissan's 'e-Power' Hybrid System is a Strange Combination

This one has a video too! The video shows the traction battery being installed in the car at the assembly factory.

Nissan Note to debut e-Power hybrid drivetrain

 

i didn't know renault-nissan took over mitsubishi as well.

still makes no sense to me. is it more efficient to butn gasoline to create electricity to drive the wheels? makes an fcev almost sound plausible.

i wonder what an 'engine humming along at 2500 rpm' constantly sounds like in the cabin?

looks like a versa?

does it have a spare tyre?

 

Yes, that just happened as a result of Mitsubishi's own fuel economy scandal. (Which was exposed because Nissan was testing Mitsubishis that they had rebadged, and was getting rather different results than what Mitsubishi was claiming they'd get.)

 

i hope they're better insulated.

 

Just on the underseat thing, whenever (rarely) I'm in the back, my feet usually go under the front seat. So if there's an immovable object there, whether or not it's mechanically vital, I'm cramped.

Just a thought.

 

that's a good point. in a small car, that can be very awkward. will be interesting to see the final configuration.

 

Depends on the car's speed. Look at the current Accord hybrid, it is a series hybrid up to around 45mph, and it has city mpg that rivals the gen3 Prius. Keeping the ICE in the efficient zone and shutting down when there is enough buffer in the battery compensate for the conversion losses a series hybrid has. Get into highway speeds and it will directly drive the wheels with the ICE because the engine likely has to operate outside its efficiency sweet spot to generate enough electricity for propulsion alone, and the conversion losses could have increased.

Nissan's system should be good at city speeds, but will start sucking at US freeway speeds. Since this is a Japan only product, where the fuel economy tests are easier, and average speeds are lower, that doesn't matter.

I doubt we'll see this system used for the US without a plug. A range extended Leaf can't be ruled at this point. And from what @bwilson4web reports on his i3 REx, this should be a more efficient system.

Well, Audi A1 Etron concept used a single speed for the ICE while in series mode. People found this steady hum disorienting while driving at varying speeds, so the prototypes started using three set speeds to better match road speeds.

There was also some reports that the gen1 Volt could have had better hybrid fuel economy, but the NVH(noise vibration harshness) of operating the ICE in that manner was deemed unacceptable in a consumer product.

Well, it is in the US.

In the land of the kei car, how many regular cars have spares. If the ICE version has one, the only reason not for the hybrid to have it is for reducing weight. Nothing is intruding into the rear area.

And for some small cars, comfortable foot placement is only possible by space under the seats.

Ever sat in an older Fit? The gas tank is under the driver's seat.

Edit: Just checked out the video @jadziasman linked too. The battery fits mostly between the under rails of the chassis. Some protrudes up into the cabin, but it appears Nissan arranged it for foot space for the rear passengers

And going back to @bisco, FCEV make sense in that they are more efficient in making electricity than an ICE. They have the issue of cost, which could be solved, but their real hurdle is in using hydrogen for fuel and resulting building out of that refueling infrastructure. They don't have to use pure hydrogen for fuel though. Volvo has one that operates on diesel, and the FCEV Nissan plans to have out in Japan for the 2020 Olympics runs on ethanol.

 

Pump to wheels, maybe, but what about well to wheels?

 

It depends on the fuel doesn't it?
Best case for an ICE is 40% or so thermal efficiency, and then there is loses in generating the electric on a series hybrid.
Best case fuel cells have 60% thermal efficiency, and they generate electric directly.

If they both run on diesel or gasoline, then the only difference is those above. Ethanol would have some differences, because the ICE would use pure ethanol, or mix it with gasoline, and what Nissan plans for is using 55% ethanol in this FCEV. So it's 'well' to pump would be a little more than half what it is for an E100 car, plus getting water to the station, purifying it, and mixing it with the alcohol for the FCEV.

Fueling with pure hydrogen is a non-starter for me.

 

Works for me:

Bob Wilson

 

Could you imagine this car loaded down with four people and their stuff trying to traverse a high speed mountain pass? I don't think that would turn out very well.. who knows though. I just can't see that being able to work(well)

 

no question. it's a congested city car. and even then, all your doing is adding more pollution.

 

Bill Mauldin in The Red Badge of Courage

 

But less than the ICE model. Remember, this is a Japan only car, and we've learned from the Prime release that charging it at home there may not be the best for many. Then the Prime costs more than a Prius, and this Note E-power costs less than a Prius.

A lot more hybrids are sold in Japan than elsewhere, but the majority of new cars sold are still ICE ones.