Nissan to speed up development of hybrid vehicles

[kristopher]

Nissan to speed up development of hybrid vehicles

Nissan Motor Co. plans to invest 300 billion yen ($3.9 billion) over the next six years to shift into overdrive the development of eco-friendly vehicles, according to a midterm business plan unveiled on Oct. 24.

In addition to electric vehicles, the automaker plans to speed up the development of hybrids, where it has lagged behind rival Toyota Motor Corp. and of fuel-cell vehicles. By expanding its selection of eco-friendly vehicles on all fronts, Nissan hopes to gear up for competition with rivals and tougher environmental regulations in different countries.

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan president and CEO, told reporters at a news conference in Yokohama that he plans for Nissan's fleet to achieve one of the world's top fuel efficiencies. Nissan's midterm business plan includes environmental technology development plans for fiscal 2011-2016. The automaker plans to shore up hybrid vehicles, which rely on both electric motors and gasoline engines, to improve the fuel economy of its entire range.

Last year, Nissan released a hybrid vehicle model, the first in 10 years to have been developed independently, but its circulation remains limited. The company plans to release midsize hybrid vehicles in 2013 and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which can be charged with external power sources and are closer to electric vehicles than conventional hybrids, in 2015.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. also plan to release plug-in hybrids in 2012....

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/economy/AJ2011102515724

[dmallind]

1. Good idea - ICE-based hybrids are a weakness of theirs

They certainly have leadership in the pure EV mass market for now, but their hybrid Altima uses the old barely-better-than-ICE Camry hybrid powerplant. An independent hybrid Sentra/Versa to give the Prius a bit of competitive pressure would be an excellent move.

[kristopher]

2. It also shows the inexorable direction the world is moving...

We are leaving fossil fuels behind at last.