Nissan introducing Serena with 2nd-generation e-POWER system in Japan
29 November 2022
Nissan launched the fully-revamped Serena in Japan. Sales of gasoline-powered models will start this winter, and e-POWER models are to start in spring. The Serena features the second-generation e-POWER system, now equipped with an all-new, specially developed 1.4 L engine. The system delivers more powerful and smooth acceleration with less engine noise.
Nissan first introduced a Serena e-POWER model in 2018 (earlier post)—the second second model with the e-POWER system, which was first introduced in the Nissan Note in Japan in 2016. The series-hybrid e-POWER borrows from the EV technology in the Nissan LEAF. However, unlike the all-battery-electric powertrain of the LEAF, e-POWER adds a small gasoline engine to charge the small, high-output battery when necessary, eliminating the need for an external charger while offering the same high-output. e-Power vehicles do not use grid charging.
Serena e-POWER Engine
The e-POWER system offers full electric motor drive. e-POWER comprises a high-output battery, gasoline engine power generator, inverter and a motor. Efficient, fixed-point operation of the engine is achieved by restricting the engine’s operating range—only possible for an engine that is dedicated to electricity generation.
Serena e-POWER Engine / Battery
The Serena is also equipped with energy management technology that controls when the engine turns on and off in accordance with vehicle speed, traffic conditions and the navigation system. Reduced engine operation contributes to a quieter cabin.
Serena e-POWER engine
e-POWER control technology utilizes traffic and road surface information to optimize the timing of when to activate the engine to charge the battery pack, towards the goal of improved real-world fuel efficiency and quietness on par with EVs.
Based on the location information of the driver’s home, traffic jam area, rough road and downhill sections on a navigated route, the e-POWER’s intelligent powertrain management can schedule when the engine needs to activate in advance. This combination of information and advanced planning can enable an EV-like drive around home and during a traffic jam, and charge the battery on rough roads and downhill sections to improve real world fuel efficiency and quietness.
I'm all for this approach, but I would like to see some figures, like mpg, to speed and acceleration, etc.
Also, why not have a secondary battery with 5-10 kWh of storage so it can be charged form the mains, or PV panels on the roof.
(OK, cost and weight, but it could be an option).
Note one of the options is called "Highway Star". I hope they have acknowledged Deep Purple for this. After all, it was also "Made in Japan".
Posted by: mahonj | 29 November 2022 at 04:16 AM
Scale this up for class 8 tractors. Two electric axles. Small lfp battery buffer. A petrol engine/generator. As the article says "Efficient, fixed-point operation of the engine is achieved by restricting the engine’s operating range—only possible for an engine that is dedicated to electricity generation." No need for gobs of HP /Pound feet , no scr/turbos. Just a cat.
Posted by: TonyD | 29 November 2022 at 08:09 AM
If Nissan was truly interested in Leading Environmental Affordable cars for Families....... then would offer a replacement battery for the 500 000 Leafs that will be crushed in the next 5 years...... THIS would be Leading, THIS would be Environmental, This would be Affordable, and finally THIS would allow families to be on the green bus......
Not since GM killed the Electric car has THIS been so evident....
Posted by: ron ingman | 29 November 2022 at 01:42 PM
Another japanese non-plug-in hybrid.
The japanese industry has been moving with the blindfolds set on for years...
Posted by: peskanov | 29 November 2022 at 03:02 PM
Can't help but wonder what hold the fossil fuels interest has on the Japanese; Nissan's slow development of the Leaf, especially their move to overprice Leaf replacement batteries and Toyota's attack on electric cars speaks volumes of this as a conclusion.
Posted by: Lad | 29 November 2022 at 04:49 PM
Japanese Auto manufacturers are definitely not interested in BEV or PHEV at this time. The Hybrid will be used to develop the next generation vehicle probably appearing sometime around the end of the decade.
This nextgen vehicle will have a solid state battery that is low cost and very safe. It will be tested first on Hybrid vehicles in 2025. This could be Lithium or most likely a Sodium anode free battery similar to what CATL is developing (It should be noted that Sharp Labs developed a battery very much like the CATL first generation Sodium Ion battery - https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/01/f19/10_2014Storage_PeerRev_Lee_JJ_Low-Cost_Sodium-ion_poster.pdf).
Nissan is planning for a Solid State battery in the next two yers and Toyota is working on a US battery plant. However, due to Supply Chain issues and the cost of Lithium Metal, it is unlikely that this will be either a Lithium Metal or Lithium Ion battery. This is a little ironic when one considers that Japan developed the first Lithium Ion battery (Akira Yoshino, awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 alongside M. Stanley Whittingham and John B. Goodenough).
This nextgen vehicle will have very good aerodynamics and have tech like the Mercedes EQXX which gets around 7.5 miles per kWH. Just look at the Toyota BZ3 (for China only with a Cd of .218) and the 5th generation Prius. With an Anode free Sodium battery and Cd of .17, you would only need a 50 kWh battery for a range greater than 300 miles.
All of this follows the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen or continuous improvement process.
Posted by: Gryf | 30 November 2022 at 10:11 AM
@Gryf,
Toyota and Honda's hybrids in the nineties were not "kayzen", then.
If the japanese wait ten years to flood the market with plug-in vehicles, they will be dead in Europe, China and most developed countries. Nobody is going to wait for them to bring EV's and plug-ing hybrids to market.
Posted by: peskanov | 01 December 2022 at 01:27 AM