Batteries to be "core" Nissan business

Nissan's Infiniti M hybrid

Nissan is making rechargeable batteries a "core business" for its long term plans.

"The electric car is going to be a long-term bet, a long-term investment," Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn told a news conference ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show.

"If you want to go for the electric car, or even for the fuel-cell car, the heart of the system is the battery," Ghosn said.

Nissan closer to small hybrids, but not sold yet

No more HSD for Nissan

At a technology briefing regarding Nissan's electric vehicle plans, Executive Vice President Mitsuhiko Yamashita said "Japan's No.3 automaker had made no final decision about actually offering small and mid-sized hybrid vehicles, but said the technology may be necessary for consumers who need fuel-efficient, all-purpose cars that have the same driving range as conventional gasoline or diesel cars," reports Reuters.

While claiming that zero emission vehicles would be the ideal path forward, Yamashita acknowledged that electric vehicles "might take a while"; therefore, small and medium sized hybrid vehicles could provide a good interim - and probably more cost-effective - offering.

Conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and electric cars, can forward-looking automakers afford not to produce all three?

Nissan preparing to increase hybrid models

Not a one hybrid automaker

For a while Nissan has planned to launch its own proprietary hybrid drive in some luxury vehicles, such as the Infinity M. However, new reports indicate that Nissan will also mate their new hybrid drive into a number of other small and medium sized vehicles as well.

While Nissan has been a bit of hybrid naysayer, it appears that Nissan is beginning to sing a different tune on hybrid cars.

Nissan's future: Self-charging EVs

One of Nissan's EV concepts

Imagine a range extended electric vehicle, similar to the Chevy Volt, but without the gas. Instead, of using an engine to generate extra electricity, an onboard ultracapacitor would extend the range of the EV.

It might sound a little futuristic, and it is, but that is exactly one such plan that Nissan is working on as it seeks to become the leader in the electrification of the automobile according to Nissan's Minoru Shinohara, senior vice president of technology development.

And, according to Greentechmedia, Shinohara's views are not to be taken lightly.

Nissan still working out kinks on new hybrids

Hoping to get rid of Toyota hybrid license?

Nissan showed off new technology for hybrid cars and electric vehicles in Japan on Wednesday. While the electric cars seemed to perform well, reporters did notice problems with Nissan's new hybrid. "Nissan's hybrid system still has some bugs to work out. Shown on an Infiniti luxury model, it seemed to lurch a little when the gas engine kicked in as speed picked up."

Nissan didn't offer any details on price, range, production capabilities, etc. of the new vehicles.

Nissan's lithium move points to 2010 hybrid wars?

Lithium-powered in 2009?

On Friday Nissan and NEC Group announced that they had finalized a partnership to produce lithium-ion batteries starting in 2009.

According to CNN, Nissan Senior Vice President Minoru Shinohara told a news conference, "the technology behind the partners' latest lithium-ion battery, which has twice the power of conventional batteries at half the size, was ready, and preparations were now underway for mass production and commercialisation."

While Nissan has been bearish regarding hybrid cars - only recently offering the Altima hybrid and only in a handful of states - Nissan's leader, Carlos Ghosn, has repeatedly reminded reporters that he is not opposed to hybrids. Instead, Ghosn believes.......

Finish Nissan's lithium move points to 2010 hybrid wars.

Nissan Altima hybrid pricing and availability

Altima hybrid available in 8 states

The 2007 Nissan Altima hybrid is now available in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont with an MSRP of $24,400.

With an EPA estimated 42 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, the Altima hybrid qualifies for a $2350.00 federal tax credit.

Hmmm?? A Camry hybrid, a Prius or an Altima hybrid, all these damn hybrid cars! Finally!

Nissan considering hybrid battery venture

Nissan is "mulling" a partnership with NEC Corp. to develop lithium-ion batteries for hybrid cars and other fuel efficient technologies. "Business daily Nihon Keizai reported on Thursday that Nissan and NEC would set up a joint company next year, aiming to begin mass production of the batteries by 2010." (more)

While Nissan will offer the Altima hybrid in 2007 - its first hybrid - the hybrid Altima will be produced from leased Toyota technology. By 2010, however, Nissan hopes to offer its own hybrid vehicles based on proprietary technology, and a new line of batteries.

Carlos Ghosn keeps talking about hybrids

Nissan executives keep talking about the profitability of hybrid cars, yet they keep promoting plans to develop hybrids. Recently Carlos Ghosn told reporters at the opening of a new Nissan design studio in the Tokyo suburb of Atsug, "The hybrid as a technology is a promising technology, we have always said it. Nobody can ignore that hybrids can be one potential solution for mass market car sometime in the future." He further stated, "That is a promising technology that we need to work on, and we need to develop, and we need to be ready in case this technology breaks through and becomes a mass-market technology. Which I think it's still not." (more)

Nissan still going to develop electric and hybrid vehicles

While numerous executives at Nissan have been hybrid skeptical, Nissan is still going to begin a five year green program which will include the production of hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and bio-ethanol vehicles. While Nissan remains a bit cautious regarding hybrid cars and their electric motors, the company has also acknowledged that electric motors very well could replace internal combustion engines.

In 2007, Nissan will offer the Altima hybrid in some states, but that hybrid is mainly being built to meet the tougher emissions requirements in some states, and the hybrid Altima is being built from leased Toyota technology.

(AFP)

2007 Nissan Altima hybrid update

I was finally able to see the 2007 Nissan Altima hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Very nice. The price was not posted on this vehicle at the show, unlike most vehicles that were market ready. Since this new hybrid, Nissan's first, appears to be much more of a Camry hybrid contender, than a Prius contender, I'm sure its pricing will be more like the hybrid Camry.

Nissan stepping up hybrid plans

Nissan is going to develop its own line of lithium-ion batteries and use those batteries to produce electric cars available for sale in about 3 years. Since this report is coming out of Japan, it is hard to assess which markets Nissan is focused on for these new electric vehicles. In addition, to the electric vehicles, Nissan is also going to step up plans for hybrid vehicles, bio-diesel vehicles and diesel vehicles.