Nissan has updated its e-Power hybrid engine setup for the Qashqai, promising lower emissions and improved fuel economy.
How does e-Power work?
Unlike most hybrid systems, which use a petrol engine and an electric motor working together, in a Nissan e-Power, the electric motor does all of the driving, while the 1.5-litre petrol engine is only there to act as a generator, constantly topping up the compact lithium-ion battery which powers the motor. With no plugging in required, Nissan claims that e-Power cars are a convenient way to get people used to the performance characteristics of an electric car. They're also less complicated, as there's no need for a gearbox because the electric motor drives the wheels directly.
So, what are the upgrades?
Well, Nissan says that its e-Power drivetrains have been 'completely re-engineered' with fuel consumption reduced to 4.5 litres per 100km, which Nissan claims is a best-in-class figure. In theory, a Qashqai e-Power with a full tank of petrol now has the ability to drive for up to 1,200km before refuelling.
CO2 emissions have also been trimmed, and are now down to 102g/km, down from 116g/km, which is a 12 per cent reduction from the outgoing Qashqai e-Power. Meanwhile, the e-Power system is now quieter, with a 5.6-decibel reduction in cabin noise, and there's an extra 10kW (that's 13.5hp) power when Sport mode is selected.
How has Nissan found the improvements?
Well, for a start, there's a new 5-in-1 electric motor design, which integrates the electric motor, generator, inverter, reducer and increaser into a more compact and lighter package. There have also been some calibration improvements for the 1.5-litre petrol generator engine, and that has liberated an overall power increase of 11kW, or 14.9hp.
In fact, Nissan says that while the e-Power's 1.5-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine uses the same capacity and layout as before, it's been so thoroughly updated that it almost counts as a brand new engine. The engine uses Nissan's STARC system (that's Strong Tumble and Appropriately stretched Robust Ignition Channel for all you acronym fans) which helps the engine to achieve 42 per cent thermal efficiency - in other words, 42 per cent of the fuel burned is turned into power, with the rest turned into heat, and that's a very high figure for a petrol combustion engine.
There's a bigger turbocharger, a tweaked fuel injection and combustion setup, and the engine now runs 200rpm lower when the car is cruising on main roads and motorways. In fact, so efficient is this new engine design that Nissan has binned the previous version's variable valve timing system, as it's just not needed anymore.
There are lots of small detail changes too, like a switch to 0W16 lubricating oil, reducing internal friction, and which allows Nissan to stretch the service interval to 20,000km. Overall, Nissan claims that the new e-Power system delivers 16 per cent better fuel economy in real-world conditions, and a 14 per cent improvement in highway fuel consumption versus the outgoing generation.
Well, Nissan - hot on the heels of showing off the all-new Leaf - reckons that e-Power is still a good way to get EV-doubtful drivers used to the performance, smoothness, and power delivery of an electric motor, but without them having to worry about plugging in and charging up. Clíodhna Lyons, Region Vice President, Product & Services Planning, Nissan AMIEO, said: “This generation of e-Power is the result of combining our customer insights with Nissan's vision for electrified powertrains. It takes further the promise of e-Power by delivering much better efficiency without any compromise on performance. Best fuel efficiency and range - even on the highway - with a pleasant, refined, everyday EV driving. And all that, without changing the way we are used to live with a traditional vehicle. More than ever, it represents a seamless transition for our customers towards full EV and a key pillar of our electrification strategy.”
As well as the new e-Power system, the Qashqai will also be getting some infotainment updates, in line with what we've seen in the new Leaf, including Google built-in infotainment, which provides access to Google Maps, Assistant, and the Play Store. New features include voice commands via Google Assistant, access to additional apps through Google Play, weather forecasts at planned destinations, and Nissan Trip Stories - allowing customers to easily record and share their favourite journeys via the NissanConnect Services app. There will also be some updates to the ProPILOT driver assistance features such as improved multi-lane autonomous drive interfaces for better traffic monitoring and awareness of surrounding environment.
When can I have one?
Nissan says that the updated Qashqai e-Power will be available from September.