Nissan has officially launched its e-Power technologies in Africa with the first model to sport the hybrid underpinnings being the Qashqai.
The semi-electric crossover is on its way to South Africa, and while the automaker has yet to confirm exactly when it will reach local showrooms, it hinted that we can expect the vehicle to land in the early months of 2024.
To showcase the e-Power systems, what the brand calls its “gateway to fully electric vehicles”, Nissan aptly made use of the inaugural Formula E and E Fest weekend in Cape Town to give media from all over the continent an opportunity in the driver seat of its upcoming Qashqai.
e-Power is… complicated
Nissan’s e-Power represents a new era for hybrid technologies in South Africa as it incorporates both an internal combustion engine (ICE) and electric motor, but only the latter actually gets the job of turning the wheels.
This configuration is called a range-extender hybrid and the only other car that was ever sold in the local market with such as drivetrain was the BMW i3 REx from all the way back in 2015, which was discontinued in 2022.
Like a traditional hybrid, the range-extender variety in the Qashqai incorporates a 1.5-litre petrol engine, a generator, an alternator, a 2.1kWh lithium-ion battery, and naturally, the electric motor developing 140kW and 330Nm.
Unlike a traditional hybrid, the crossover’s wheels are driven purely by electricity, and the ICE only kicks in to charge the battery as soon as it nears depletion, or when a sudden burst of acceleration is needed.
A Nissan spokesman explained that the ICE motivates the generator, which proceeds to deliver an alternating current (AC) to the alternator, which then converts this to a direct current (DC) and sends it either to the battery module for storage or the electric motor for consistent propulsion.
The inherent benefits of the range-extender configuration, according to Nissan, are heightened engine responsiveness, a smoother driving experience, the possibility of one-pedal operation, lower emissions, and, of course, reduced fuel consumption.
Driving e-Power is… awesome
As Nissan is but the second manufacturer that has ever decided to sell range-extender hybrids in South Africa, the application and touted advantages of the powertrain might be met with valid skepticism, but we are here to reassure you that your raised eyebrows aren’t necessary.
The Qashqai already afforded a well-rounded ride when we tested it last year in petrol guise, in which the crossover is driven solely by a 1.3-litre motor with 110kW and 250Nm paired to a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
In standard and e-Power derivatives, the Nissan is light on its feet and offers a smooth powerband uninterrupted by shifting cogs.
The handling is sharp and the suspension firm but accommodating, this combination relaying a good bit of information through the steering wheel; so while you do feel the bumps and holes from whichever surface you are on they are not intrusive.
The biggest difference between the petrol and hybrid Qashqai, therefore, is the noticeable sense of urgency in the accelerator as a result of the electric motor’s inherent lack of powertrain lag.
The official 0-100km/h time of 7.9 seconds, compared to the ICE’s 8.9 seconds, is nothing special, but it’s more about the intermediate acceleration at everyday speeds that brings out the convenience of e-Power.
With the petrol variant you first have to wait for the turbo to spool for a few milliseconds until the powertrain becomes responsive, but with the e-Power, the waiting time has been cut down to virtually zero thanks to the “permanently excited” magnets turning the axle.
The extra bit of horses and torque certainly does help to lend the hybrid a more rapid response time, but the difference between the foundations is noticeably bigger than if the e-Power were to be a pure ICE.
Officially, the hybrid is also quoted to consume five litres of petrol every 100km, versus the ICE’s 6.1l/100km. We tested the car around a short course at Killarney raceway so its fuel usage wasn’t reflective of real-world rates, though with a fuel tank at 100% and a half-charged battery, it did say there was 951km of distance left before it will need a refill.
To further stand apart from the normal Qashqai, the e-Powers see a model-exclusive grille with a blanked-out top partition, e-Power badging, and alloy wheels up to 20 inches – whereas inside the cabin, they feature a distinctive gear lever, a fully-digital instrument cluster, and buttons for pure-EV mode and brake energy recuperation strength.
Naturally, there’s also no engine noise in the passenger compartment when only running on electricity, and when the ICE does fire up on a particularly demanding section of road it’s barely audible.
One-pedal driving is also a standout feature of the e-Power. It enables the driver to do exactly as the name suggests, which is to drive the crossover using one pedal only while letting the electric side of things take care of braking and energy recovery.
BMW’s quirky i3 may have been early to the party, as we suspect the Qashqai e-Power is arriving at just the perfect time and will have a few competitors thinking: “Why did we never do this?”
Nissan Qashqai e-Power
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