HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE (HEV)
It looks like a normal Infiniti G35 sedan, but a hybrid powertrain like no other hides beneath the surface of the prototype that we drove in Japan. Nissan's hybrid system features two clutches sandwiching a single hybrid motor. This arrangement precludes the need for any torque converters and permits multiple EV gears, which means that the car should be able to maintain speeds in excess of 60 mph without relying upon the gasoline engine.
Nissan claims that its hybrid system will permit Versa-like economy (at least 27 mpg combined) with performance superior to that of the G35 sport sedan. Like the EV, the first HEVs will reach fleet customers in 2010, while everyday Joes can expect theirs in 2012. Also like the EV, the hybrid will use Nissan's own lithium-ion battery technology (which the company has been researching since 1992), similar to what's used in cell-phone and laptop-computer batteries - a distinct difference from the nickel-metal-hydride units used in today's production hybrids. The Nissan batteries are shaped into thin rectangles (as opposed to the long cylinders of today's more familiar hybrids), which allows for improved cooling and more flexible packaging options. (The batteries in the EV, for instance, will likely be layered within the vehicle's floor.)
On the road, the hybrid system is, indeed, well-integrated, as it seamlessly switches among hybrid-assist modes. The car's brakes definitely need some more work, though; they were overly sensitive and applied inconsistent levels of pressure. Again, Nissan personnel assured us that the brakes would be properly sorted prior to the vehicle's production launch.
Nissan wouldn't say for sure, but we're reasonably confident that the HEV will be realized in the form of a distinct model. This project marks Nissan's first internally developed hybrid powertrain, since the existing Altima Hybrid uses proprietary Toyota technology.