Next year, Nissan is set to release an electric vehicle complete with a range-extender engine, in a similar vein to the BMW i3.
Like the i3, this plug-in will differ from most hybrid models in that the small combustion engine will act as a generator for the batteries rather than actually powering the wheels.
As it stands, details about the car remain scarce. While speaking with Motoring, however, the deputy general manager for EV and HEV engineering divisions at Nissan, Yoshi Shimoida, said that the firm dubs the system a “series hybrid” and the name of the new model will be revealed in 2016.
Shimoda wouldn’t comment on whether Nissan’s range-extended hybrid will in fact rival the i3 or if it will be able to match the 300 km range of i3’s fitted with the optional 650cc internal combustion engine acting solely as a battery generator. While the i3 is offered with or without a range-extender, there’s a good chance that the Nissan will only be available with the range extender in order to avoid clashing with the all-electric Leaf.
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