Page 111 - Monaco Economie 126

issan ash ai e Power

Electric and Autonomous! by Philippe Lacroix

issan innovates by e uipping its new ash ai with e Power

technology, a hybrid system that ensures dynamic, efficient and
silent driving. he starting price is , .

The new Qashqai is the first Nissan model in
Europe to be fitted with an e-Power engine.
It is innovative to the extreme, and gives the
impression of driving a vehicle that is 100%
electric. Here’s the secret: the e-Power system
consists of a high-power battery, a generator,
an inverter, a 140 kW (190 HP) electric motor
and a 158 HP, a 1.5 litre turbocharged 3-cylinder
gasoline engine with a variable compression
ratio. The gasoline engine generates electricity
which can be transmitted via the inverter to the
battery, the electric motor or both, depending
on the driving conditions. energy needs as the car accelerates, ensuring electric motor via the inverter, to increase the
The engine is unique in that the electric motor that there is no lag between performance and flow of electricity from the battery.
is the only source of power transmitted to the the noise level perceived by the passengers.
front axle. Its 330 NM torque gets an instant and The e-Pedal for driving comfort
linear response, and the result is acceleration Power, efficiency, silence Like the Leaf, the Qashqai e-Power can also
from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.9 seconds In fact, in normal driving, without rushing the benefit from single-pedal driving controlled by
car, the combustion engine is rarely heard a button on the console. When the foot is lifted
A sophisticated petrol engine and, in any case, its RPM does not rise very from the accelerator, moderate until braking
This exclusive technology is an attractive high, especially since it is powerful enough to occurs that decelerates the car to a crawl (~5
alternative to traditional hybrids. There is no produce the necessary electrical energy without km/h). Its use quickly becomes intuitive for a
need for either a classic gearbox with the effort. Its fuel consumption then fluctuates smoother and more relaxing drive in town, while
revving of the combustion engine, or for a between a little less than 5 litres in the city and the possibilities of battery regeneration are
CVT with its sometimes piercing sound. Most nearly 7 litres on the highway while respecting maximised, since kinetic energy is recovered
of the time, the Qashqai e-Power runs silently the limits of course. This is a very flattering with each deceleration and braking.
and does not need to be recharged. score for such a powerful vehicle that weighs The Qashqai e-Power which is 4.42 m long, 1.83
The core of the e-Power system is the famous 1,685 kg. The top speed has cleverly been m wide, and built on a of 2.67 m wheelbase,
adjustable compression petrol engine (between limited to 170 km/h and with a 55-litre tank, can take 5 passengers and their luggage in a
8:1 and 14:1) which adjusts to provide the best the range is around 1,000 km. very accommodating and spacious area, with
balance between performance and economy, Finally, to maximize performance in high a trunk that goes from 504 to 1,582 litres. Its
depending on the engine load. The key to the acceleration or high speed situations, the road handling is remarkable and its driving aids
system, which is called Linear Tune, controls the energy management unit can send the power are able to overcome most of the problems
engine and gradually increases its RPM to meet generated by the heat engine directly to the that the driver may encounter.

111

ME_126.indd 111 13/04/2023 11:33