Nissan Has Started PHEV Development
03 September 2008
Nissan Motor Co. has started development of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), according to Vice President Mitsuhiko Yamashita. The release date remains to be determined.
In a presentation describing Nissan’s work with its next-generation lithium-ion batteries at the Advanced Automotive Batteries Conference earlier this year, Toshio Hirota noted that Nissan sees PHEVs as a potential mechanism to reduce CO2 output in the shorter term, but that it had concerns including battery cost, market demand, and the CO2 intensity of electricity. (Earlier post.)
In May, Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn said that the company will introduce an all-electric vehicle in the US and Japan in 2010 and then mass-market vehicles to consumers globally in 2012. (Earlier post.)
In 2007, Nissan, NEC and NEC TOKIN Corporation established a joint venture—Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC)—to develop and market lithium-ion batteries for wide-scale automotive applications including hybrids, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and electric vehicles.
"Nissan sees PHEVs as a potential mechanism to reduce CO2 output in the shorter term, but that it had concerns including battery cost, market demand, and the CO2 intensity of electricity"
I "the customer" have concerns with gasoline costs, air pollution, C02 density of gasoline, oil changes, greenwashing and arse covering statements from overpaid CEO's.
Pay me $10M a year (whatever) so I can order development of every possible drivetrain option. Then I'll call myself a genius when I hit the winning run.
Posted by: Sam the Vogon | 03 September 2008 at 08:19 AM
CEO was afraid of externalities being applied back to the auto sector. Unfortunatly, no matter what he believes personally, he is obligated to act in the best interests in the company. More unfortunatly, is the short term outlook that it engenders. That, and the mixed if not outright market signals of some of the gov'ts. Not as bad as some CEO's but not as good as others.
Posted by: aym | 03 September 2008 at 08:36 AM
yeah, I guess so. I like to see a guy making risky decisions once in a while. At least Ghosn stuck his neck on the block with an all electrics play.
Actually, the Nissan guy is just an overpaid VP. I was giving him too much credit
Posted by: Sam the Vogon | 03 September 2008 at 08:55 AM
"...CO2 intensity of electricity..."
This statement seems a bit odd. It is pretty much a break even with coal plants and they provide 1/2 of U.S. electricity, so the CO2 should be less. In the west we use lots of natural gas and California is pushing for 20% renewable energy.
I am glad they are going to bring EVs to the U.S. in 2010. I think that a major manufacturer will do well with these. It is a risk, but if based on an existing platform, not much of one. People may see that as a second car, EVs can work quite well.
Posted by: sjc | 03 September 2008 at 10:08 AM
Ghosn is not an overpaid CEO. Without him, Nissan would likely be bankrupt and in pieces. The history of this is well known to those who follow the auto industry, and he is something of a legend in Japan for shaking up and reordering their management structure. In fact Ghosn could likely name his price to any number of other auto companies and they would be happy to have him.
Posted by: Green Destiny | 03 September 2008 at 10:51 AM
Apparently he hails from the land of Gho-shen? More interesting at least than the land of cotton.
Posted by: Sulleny | 03 September 2008 at 03:47 PM
Ha, mister Goshn said he didn't want a PHEV since he only believes in EV. Apparently Nissan convinced him that it was probably too early (and too dangerous) to bet on one unproven technology only. Anyway I am pretty sure they will be both EV and PHEV on the road moving forward, the only thing we don't know if that there will be more EV than PHEV or the opposite, better be flexible...good luck to Nissan
Posted by: Teehugger | 03 September 2008 at 07:28 PM
"CO2 intensity of electricity" should be alright if they just use "clean coal" or "real energy." That's what the Republican Fossil Fuel convention was pumping last night. Smells more like the sulfur from hell when they start chanting in unified double speak like that.
Even when an EV plugs into a coal fired plant, CO2 is diminished considerably from an ICE powered car because electric motors are better than 95% efficient.
Posted by: creativforce | 04 September 2008 at 11:26 AM
Presumably the Republican definition of "clean" coal is removal of most of the sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate (PM) emissions from the burning process. Which leaves CO2,the minor greenhouse gas, and that has taken a back seat lately.
Projections for these new coal plants are as far out as fifteen years to completion. You'd think if they were really serious about "clean coal" they could fast-track that down to 5-6 years.
Posted by: gr | 04 September 2008 at 01:20 PM
If they were serious, they would have continued with the Clinton/Gore requirement that if they are going to expand the coal fired power plants, they have to upgrade them. Bush allowed them to expand with the same old polluting methods that they have used for more than 30 years.
Posted by: sjc | 05 September 2008 at 09:38 AM
Agreed. Bush is responsible for nearly everything that's wrong in the world as far as I'm concerned. O'Bama will fix it.
Posted by: | 05 September 2008 at 02:14 PM