Nissan is fully committing to EVs.
Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru made headlines with their recent announcement of collaboration to develop next-generation combustion engines.
However, Nissan, another Japanese automaker, has adopted a markedly different strategy by discontinuing investments in gasoline and diesel power altogether. According to Nissan, it has largely ceased expenditure on new internal combustion engine (ICE) technology.
In a recent interview with Drive magazine, Francois Bailly, Senior Vice-President and Chief Planning Officer for the Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, and Oceania (AMIEO) region at Nissan, revealed the company’s stance on future engine development.
When asked about the possibility of new combustion engines, Bailly stated that: “Our future is EV. We’re not investing in new powertrain for ICE, that’s for sure.”
Nissan aims to increase the thermal efficiency of its combustion engines to 50% in hybrid cars, a goal that would significantly enhance fuel economy. The company has been working on this technology for several years, achieving a milestone with a prototype e-Power engine in early 2021.
Notably, Toyota’s Dynamic Force engine lineup has already reached an impressive 40% thermal efficiency.
Although Nissan will no longer be investing in new internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrains, it doesn’t mean the company will switch to an all-electric lineup overnight. Instead, the automaker will adapt its portfolio to regional emissions regulations, which are still being relaxed in some areas, such as Africa where Euro 2 cars are still allowed.
As a result, the transition to electric vehicles will be gradual, with current engines being updated to meet stricter regulations.
In contrast, some manufacturers, including Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru, believe the internal combustion engine can still be viable if it’s run on nearly carbon-neutral fuels.
These companies are working on developing engines that can operate on these fuels, with Toyota focusing on inline-fours, Mazda setting up a dedicated rotary engine team, and Subaru preparing a new hybrid setup based on its boxer engine.
Meanwhile, Honda plans to shift its focus to electric vehicles in all major markets, including North America, by 2040.
