Nissan Unveils New Hybrid, EV Technology

Nissan seems to have overcome its past skepticism about hybrid and electric vehicles.

The company distributed photos and a press release trumpeting its new all-electric and hybrid powertrains. Built into an Infiniti G35, the new prototypes run off a lithium-ion battery pack system. There aren’t currently any commercially sold lithium ion-powered hybrids on the market.

Nissan has previously been slow to the table when it comes to embracing hybrid technology, despite positive reviews for its Altima Hybrid, which is only sold in a few states. But this summer, gas prices have been the writing on the wall. Hybrid and electric vehicle technology are the most feasible way to make big gains on fuel economy today, so Nissan has done something of an about-face from a few years ago. That’s when Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn said of hybrids, "They make a nice story, but they're not a good business story yet."

These new hybrid and electric cars sound ambitious. The all-electric vehicle will use the high-density li-ion pack to power an 80-kilowatt motor. The hybrid will use familiar gas-electric technology, only with a more powerful V-6 engine.

There was no mention of expected mileage, but Nissan plans to unveil the cars in 2010 — the same year GM's Volt and a host of other automakers’ fuel-efficient offerings will debut.

Comments

[LM]

Hybrid powerful V6 sedan. Sounds like a winner to me. NOT. (RIP Accord Hybrid)

[Dave T.]

or LExus GS hybrid

[LM]

I was going to put the GS hybrid...but it's not dead....yet.

I almost wrote HS...I wonder if that will be the name for the new Lexus hybrid-only vehicle. It would make sense...