Nissan Note series hybrid: Leaf drivetrain + small battery + 1.2L generator
 

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1478184538

Nissan is selling a true series hybrid in Japan that they're calling "E-Power", and they're basically describing as a gateway drug to 100% EV adoption.

It's nearly as efficient as a Prius on the notoriously lenient Japese fuel economy test cycle (which doesn't have much if any prolonged high speed driving).


http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1478184590

It's a parts bin car, developed to be relatively inexpensive:

- powered by a modified 1.2L 3-cylinder engine from the Micra
- electric drivetrain components from the Leaf
- small 1.5 kWh battery (under the front seats)

The engine never powers the wheels directly:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1478184840

Fuel economy on the JC-08 cycle:

- 37.2 km/L (87 mpg US, 2.69 L/100km); 34.0 km/L (80 mpg US, 2.94 L/100km); and 34.0 km/L

For comparison, the 2016 prius is rated at 94 mpg US on the JC-08,
vs their 80-87 mpg.

A couple of vids (turn on subtitles / autotranslate if you dare):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le7poqfEkJo

The second one is just a P.O.V. clip. It shows how often the gas engine comes on (a lot). Some reports are mistakenly saying the engine only runs at its 2500 RPM BSFC sweet spot, but you can clearly hear/see that it revs up much higher when the driver floors the gas a few times.

Keep an eye on the engine/battery graphic on the right side of the instrument cluster:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGDOpZDqtSM

Nissan's press release:

https://newsroom.nissan-global.com/r...lang=en-US&rss

Interesting, indeed - especially about the higher engine RPM under demanding situations. The intake manifold looks like a 2 cylinder - the third one must be tucked in below the outer two.

I thought the same thing - about it looking like a twin.

1.3 liters 3 banger.

The only solice is if...
1. It gets sold here
2. Its a LOT cheaper than a Prius C
3. Its far easier to convert to EV than a Prii

The Note hybrid is priced at :

Quick search:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius_C

Interesting!

I predict the Note hybrid gets nowhere near the Prii highway fuel economy ratings though.

e-power Juke version
 

Seems like Nissan is expanding their e-power line-up...

http://ecomodder.com/forum/attachmen...1&d=1489076548

Note e-Power May be coming to the States
 

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/wp-...er-768x509.jpg

Interesting: Nissan's weird little Note hybrid is outselling the Prius in Japan.

That's got the company considering expanding sales to other markets:

Nissan Considers Bringing Its Unusual e-Power Technology to America

Per the Japanese cycle it's less efficient than a Prius , less expensive but with more acceleration.

rmay, do you have any numbers handy?

Old Tele man - my first thought when I saw this car was that it's going to fire up the some modders who will want to expand the battery capacity and add a plug. Similar to the way some 2nd gen Priuses were modded, except this will arguably be a better as an EV than that car was.

"Nissan is offering the Note e-POWER to its Japanese customers in three trim levels: S, X and Medalist. Fuel economy on the JC-08 cycle is 37.2 km/L (87 mpg US, 2.69 L/100km); 34.0 km/L (80 mpg US, 2.94 L/100km); and 34.0 km/L, respectively. Pricing for the entry-level S-trim starts at ¥1,772,280 (US$16,900)."

Both metrics are lower FE wise than the 4th gen Prius on the JC08 cycle

And 4th gen Prius, for comparison:

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Prius

Man, I'm getting old... I just noticed I already listed both cars' JC08 numbers in the first post. :(

In my defense, that was a while ago!

Left-hand drive e-power Note spotted testing in the U.S.
 

Full story: http://www.autonews.com/article/2017...hybrid-for-u-s

Using the standard jc08 to EPA conversion we come in around 40mpg for the epower

I hope Nissan puts in more effort to get the city metric A LOT higher than that for the US market but I’m not holding my breath

40 combined? Must be.

The Note with CVT is already rated at 39 highway / 31 city / 34 combined.

Since the ICE won't actually drive the wheels, it makes me wonder if it's not overkill to use a 3-pot. Well, since it's supposed to require a quicker recharging of the batteries, I might be wrong and it fare better than a portable genset for home usage. But anyway, instead of looking at it as an attempt for a smoothier transition to full-EV, it might be interesting to consider the suitability of this concept to alternate fuels such as ethanol as a step toward a substitution of petroleum-based fuels for renewable ones.

They had a LHD showcar come through here recently.

Was asking them why they didn't schedule a limited media drive at the plant while it was here (no registration, can't be driven on public roads).

Was a d'oh moment for the guy handling it. I'm sure he'll do so next time. Good PR, that, even if they won't sell it here.

Why didn't it get registered? I guess it would be a good opportunity to road-test it in the heavy traffic back there and get some real-world mileage figures.

I'd like to point out that this is very similar to the Accord Hybrid drivetrain - a car which is rated for ~50mpg city. The major difference with the Accord is that it has a clutched single speed "gearbox" which can allow the engine to drive the wheels directly once you're above (I believe) 50-60mph.

To a certain extent it does surprise me that Nissan didn't follow this very same approach. Unless there is some intention to use that "extended-range electric vehicle" loophole to grant access to HOV lanes and other benefits.

My guess is that it's to hit a pricepoint. The Nissan engine is probably very simple, and this is likely the least complicated and least expensive drivetrain of its kind.

Possibly, since it seems to have been done mostly with off-the-shelf parts, including the Leaf's drivetrain. Nissan had been focusing on using a single powerplant for its entire EV range, and has tried it even in some small trucks.

Nissan knows how to make a car that meets a price, AKA cheap.

Few manufacturers can do this.

My guess is they want to replace their poor CVT xmsn with something of equal cost that is more reliable

Even though the car would be much more efficient on the highway they won’t add the weight and cost to have direct drive.

If their running a generator in a motor style transmission it’s possible they have gotten serial efficiency above 90% in which case it doesn’t matter “much”
Considering that this might be a $12000 economy hybrid.

They likely will sell on price alone like the leaf and versa

In most parts of the world, highway economy probably doesn't matter all that much. How frequently are you on a long highway in Japan, or in most parts of Western Europe?

Highway economy is still important in other countries too, even though due to their smaller territorial extension there will be shorter distances to travel.

I suppose they didn't see the point, as the vehicle would be going straight back out to do car show rounds in the region. :(

Seems like LHD countries are not so many back there in China.. err.. Southeast Asia :D

Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, I honestly don't remember if there is any other, though I'm aware that Singapore allows LHD vehicles conditionally under some specific circumstances which include low-emission vehicles undergoing tests. Wouldn't it be just easier to register the car in Japan and benefit from the Vienna Convention? IIRC only China and most of the Islamic countries are not signatories of that convention and would eventually cause trouble for RHD vehicle owners registered elsewhere.

Confirmed for U.S.
 

Interesting!

Nissan Finally Confirms e-Power for North American Models

Where is that "emotional" gauge located on the dashboard and what are the units?

One has to wonder, Nissan is awe full sssllloooowwwww in bringing this over
Then says a sorta indeterminate “larger vehicles “ comment .

Call it a guess but e-versa?

Or e-power CUV minivan replicant?

Hopefully I’m wrong and their just letting Japan test the car but they he bigger e-power doesn’t sound promising:(

Just my initial thought, but why not a range extended EV using the same hardware as the leaf?

Trade battery cost to add the generator? Target a different market?

Nissan had a bunch of trolls posting in various forums on how the epower was a much better EV because you don’t have to plug it in.

My guess is it will replace their failing CVTs, be an up sell while possibly being cheaper to produce.

Knowing Nissan their ECVT probably costs much less than an auto transmission while being less efficient than a Prius.

Ah well
Time will tell

Puppies.

You actually got the impression they were corporate shills?

New Op starts first thread post into a variety of EV centric forums gushing over the EV you don’t plug in in the morning coinciding with the corresponding press release article dated the same day

Yes

Nissan is already my least favorite car company. Mostly due to their horribly misleading marketing. Bunch of fwd cars that they market as "sporty" and show them in commercials drifting, doing burnouts, etc. Get real.

I guess not much different in this context.

Interesting factoid... it's selling quite well in Japan:

https://www.automotiveworld.com/news...nmental-award/

Go figure a cheaper faster Prius sells better than the Prius