The launch of the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER has finally brought the electric vehicle (EV) at the new dealer level to the Nissan faithful, and an innovative take on electrification in order to potentially increase its adoption.

“We have many technologies suitable for the customer, especially for this region, so e-POWER is a good bridge to the EV. With e-POWER technology people can experience EV driving,” Yasukazu Kanda, global vice-president of research and development, Nissan Méxicana, told the Jamaica Observer.

EVs can be grouped into three: Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), Hybrid, and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV).

Hybrid vehicles use a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) in conjunction with an electric motor that draws energy from an on-board battery that is recharged from the ICE. Both motors can drive the front wheels together or individually. For a PHEV, it adds the ability for the on-board battery to be charged externally. Pop the bonnet on the Nissan X-Trail e-POWER and one will see an ICE; the trick is, it never drives the wheels.

The purpose of the ICE in e-POWER technology is essentially that of a generator. The X-Trail uses a 1.5-litre three-cylinder KR15DDT engine with both turbocharging and variable compression to charge the 1.8kWh battery located under the passenger side seat as necessary. That stored energy is then fed to two electric motors, front and rear, giving the Nissan X-Trail all-wheel drive to boot.

The vehicle retains several benefits of a normal EV, such as instant torque, regenerative braking, and low operational noise, while having a major boost in range and never having to be plugged in to be recharged. Users do not need to plug in an e-POWER equipped X-Trail, just add fuel to its 55-litre tank like a normal SUV to keep it charging.