Following speculation late last month that an announcement was imminent, Nissan’s local arm has confirmed that it’s set to offer its electrified e-Power range on Kiwi soil from 2022 onwards.
Nissan boasts that its e-Power range is the best mid-point between pure electric and hybrid technologies. Long story short, e-Power models use a petrol generator to continually replenish an otherwise pure electric powertrain.
Uniquely, they’re EVs that still require trips to the petrol station.
This makes for cars that reportedly drive just like an EV, with relative silence, instant torque and an e-pedal which allows for theoretical ‘single pedal driving’, but without the need to plug in to charge.
“We call e-POWER a best-of-both-worlds solution, offering a driver the key benefits of an EV drive experience without ever having to plug in,” says Nissan New Zealand Managing Director Ben Hamilton.
“Nissan prides itself on delivering Intelligent Mobility solutions in every vehicle, and nowhere is that more obvious than with this Nissan-exclusive solution.
“While a traditional hybrid adds battery power to an internal-combustion engine, e-POWER delivers an EV-like driving experience, including exhilarating acceleration and near-silent operation, all while drastically reducing your fuel use and emissions.
“We are looking forward to our customers experiencing this future-facing technology for themselves.”
Nissan New Zealand’s e-Power announcement briefly acknowledges the e-Power versions of the Kicks, Note, and Serena, before stating that they’re all Japanese-market models that aren’t under consideration for our market.
So, what models will come to New Zealand then? Well Nissan’s local arm has confirmed that the e-Power version of the next-gen Qashqai is heading our way. It’s set to land in late 2022.
The news comes in the wake of the government’s new Clean Car Discount and Clean Car Standard schemes; both of which have seen local distributors rush to shore up their plug-in offerings.
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