As calls for the use of alternate forms of energy become louder, Japanese carmaker Nissan said its new EV (electric vehicle) powertrain, which is being used in the Nissan Leaf EV, is a breakthrough success for the automotive industry as a whole.
According to the company, its EV powertrain is able to produce enough power for a car in the place of a typical engine. The motor, as a source of power, is able to generate maximum torque quickly while using extremely low vibrations.
?This generates even more initial acceleration than a standard 3 liter-class engine without increasing noise levels. Nissan?s design is able offer high performance with high durability in a variety of environments and roads due to the main components of the motor and inverter,? it said.
The carmaker said its previous iterations of e-powertrains typically rely on the same components as the Nissan EV powertrain. The motor generates power while the inverter converts direct-current electricity to alternate current while driving and vice versa when decelerating.
Then the DC/DC converter converts high voltage to low voltage, the junction box distributes high voltage to every unit, and the reduction drive modulates the rotations of the motor (similar to a conventional transmission).
What sets the current iteration of the Nissan EV powertrain apart from other e-powertrains is the engineering and placement of the component, the company said.
?While other e-powertrains? parts are distributed along the length of the car, the Nissan EV powertrain?s components are conveniently integrated in one area, thus significantly reducing the size of the set-up,? it explained.
Reducing the overall size allows for superior efficiency that is leaps and bounds ahead of other e-powertrains, it stressed.
Nissan said one of the biggest roadblocks for the prevalence of e-powertrains is the huge cost to produce the necessary power to actually move a heavy object like a car.
According to the company, there are two methods to produce this power: 1) using a powerful magnet, and 2) applying powerful current.
Despite providing zero emissions, other e-powertrains use a high output lithium-ion battery for the battery while using magnets and rare earth materials to increase magnetic force. These rare materials further bump up the costs of other e-powertrains, it noted.
On the other hand, the Nissan said its EV powertrain cuts the use of rare earth materials while being designed and developed to implement higher output and durability.
?Because of the motor and increased efficiency upgrades to the Nissan Leaf, coupled with the Nissan EV powertrain, what we have is an electric vehicle that can be mass-produced for everyday driving,? it said.
The carmaker said the biggest hurdles for the viability of e-powertrains are the costs and inability for mass production.
?The Nissan EV powertrain is able to address both of these concerns. This is a huge breakthrough for the automotive industry that is typically seen as an industry that has problems curbing carbon emissions.
?True to Nissan?s spirit of innovation, the Nissan EV powertrain and the Nissan Leaf are the first of its kind. These technological advancements will pave the road towards zero emissions,? it said.