Next Nissan Patrol going electric? Work has begun on e-Power technology for brand’s large SUVs and utes

Nissan says development work has begun on an e-Power solution for vehicles like the Nissan Patrol and Nissan Navara, suggesting the hybrid technology could be a better solution in markets like Australia than a full BEV.

Speaking at the debut of its new streamlined EV production process it calls “X-in-1”, the brand said development work was underway for an e-Power solution for its large SUVs and commercial vehicles.

“I can say that the technology itself is applicable to larger SUVs or commercial applications, and technical development is going on,” said Nissan’s Vice President of Powertrain and EV Engineering, Shunichi Inamijima, when asked whether the technology would be rolled out in the Patrol and Navara.

Nissan says e-Power will be a more suitable solution for lower emissions than full BEVs in countries with poor charging infrastructure, and better than ICE solutions in country’s with higher fuel prices. Both of which, it could be argued, currently apply to Australia, and especially in a vehicle like the Patrol.

“Nissan e-Power is applicable not just to big SUVs like Patrol, but also for commercial applications like commercial vans or commercial trucks,” one Nissan executive said.

“It really depends on the customer needs or market request. We’re looking at the regional requests, for instance with infrastructure or fuel pricing, so we’ll consider that in the technical application of the products, whether it’s e-Power or EV.”

Nissan is throwing its weight behind its unique hybrid solution long-term as it develops manufacturing synergies it says will deliver cost parity between e-Power and ICE vehicles by 2026.

The e-Power system pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor and battery, but the ICE component never drives the wheels. Instead, it is used as a generator, with the electric motor delivering a more EV-like drive experience than a conventional hybrid.