Waikato Business News November/December 2022
Waikato Business News has for a quarter of a century been the voice of the region’s business community, a business community with a very real commitment to innovation and an ethos of co-operation.
Waikato Business News has for a quarter of a century been the voice of the region’s business community, a business community with a very real commitment to innovation and an ethos of co-operation.
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26 MOTORING<br />
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER <strong>2022</strong><br />
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, NOVEMBER/DECEMBER <strong>2022</strong><br />
e-Power tech a viable alternative to hybrids<br />
ELECTRIC MOTOR CHARGED BY PETROL-FUELLED ENGINE<br />
Dean Taylor<br />
In 2016, Nissan launched<br />
anew type of engine that<br />
blends hybrid and electric<br />
capabilities. Last year it<br />
was announced it was coming<br />
to Australia, and this month<br />
Nissan said the new X-Trail<br />
and Qashqai for New Zealand<br />
in 2023 with have e-Power.<br />
But e-Power is already<br />
available here—electric car<br />
specialists Hamilton EV<br />
imports the Nissan e-Note and<br />
Nissan Kicks.<br />
e-Power is an electric<br />
motor charged by a 1.2-litre,<br />
three cylinder petrol-fuelled<br />
engine, effectively a generator<br />
merging the driving experience<br />
of an electric car with a petrol<br />
machine’s ease of ownership.<br />
Nissan claims “e-Power is a<br />
true EV solution”.<br />
At its core is the same<br />
100 per cent electric motordriven<br />
technology used in the<br />
Nissan Leaf to deliver instant<br />
torque, power, efficiency and<br />
excitement.<br />
In high-power-demand<br />
situations, such as strong<br />
acceleration, the petrol engine<br />
and generator are used to keep<br />
the battery pack charged and<br />
can directly power the electric<br />
motor.<br />
The new option is popular<br />
in Japan, where it is commonly<br />
found in small cars such as the<br />
Nissan Note.<br />
It was a low-mileage 2021<br />
Nissan e-Note I drove—a<br />
completely capable hatch, with<br />
amazing power, smoothness<br />
and quietness, without the<br />
worry of “going flat”.<br />
Unlike a conventional<br />
hybrid, there is no mechanical<br />
link between the petrol engine<br />
and the wheels.<br />
Owners refuel the car at<br />
conventional petrol service<br />
stations as opposed to electric<br />
car charging points.<br />
I joked I was driving a<br />
Datsun 1200—the car that<br />
served my wife and me well<br />
when we were first married.<br />
But this new “Datsun<br />
1200” was no comparison<br />
to a standard ICE vehicle,<br />
especially an old-school one.<br />
For a start, even though<br />
modern ICE cars are pretty<br />
fuel efficient, it is pretty hard<br />
to beat 20-30km/litre of fuel<br />
in a vehicle with so much get<br />
up and go. To be fair, if you<br />
use that get up and go too<br />
much, the fuel goes as well. But<br />
drive properly and economy is<br />
fantastic.<br />
I averaged about 26km/<br />
litre over three days—that’s<br />
3.8l/100km in today’s fuel<br />
efficiency language. My best<br />
was a trip at 3l/100km.<br />
And that was with climate<br />
control and sounds operating—<br />
nothing special to save fuel.<br />
Hamilton EV describes the<br />
technology as Series Electric<br />
and agree it is a way to get<br />
into EV driving, without range<br />
anxiety.<br />
For some,who might live<br />
remotely, travel long distances<br />
or not want to be held up<br />
at charging stations, it is a<br />
completely viable alternative<br />
to hybrid—and possibly a<br />
better drive.<br />
There is no plug-in option,<br />
but I guess that adds weight<br />
and cost.<br />
The e-Note itself is a handysized<br />
vehicle and good looking.<br />
It probably wouldn’t serve<br />
as a people mover, but for<br />
two people, a small amount<br />
of luggage, shopping trips<br />
or the around-town car it is<br />
completely perfect.<br />
My one also had a sports<br />
package—mostly about the<br />
looks I’m guessing, so it did<br />
look cool in some eyes, but<br />
wasn’t completely practical as<br />
the front spoiler was ground<br />
hugging.<br />
But Hamilton EV has a<br />
good range of the e-Note and<br />
Kicks in store—there’s one that<br />
would suit.<br />
As part of the deal, Hamilton<br />
EV has comprehensive car<br />
manuals translated into<br />
English, and also update<br />
software in the vehicles for<br />
Kiwi conditions.<br />
0800 31 32 33<br />
www.hamiltonev.co.nz