Nissan is getting into the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) game. Or has been in it since 2016, depending on your perspective.
The company’s “e-Power” hybrid system has no physical connection between the gas engine and the wheels, will all of the power going through the electric drivetrain. Now, that system is finally coming to America, officials confirmed at a press event in Japan attended by InsideEVs earlier this week.
The third-generation e-Power system will arrive in the redesigned 2026 Rogue small crossover. The second-generation e-Power setup is already in the Qashqai crossover, which is a smash hit in Europe.
Somewhat confusingly, Nissan will launch a plug-in hybrid version of the current Rogue this year, but that will use a traditional “parallel” hybrid system from the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
Photo by: Nissan
In a parallel system, both the engine and electric motor send power to the wheels, so you have to blend them together in a way that’s tough to pull off perfectly. E-Power models only use their electric motors for motivation, with the engine purely serving to generate electricity. Automakers have taken to calling these vehicles EREVs, though Nissan’s system is a bit different from planned products like the Ram 1500 Ramcharger and the Scout Terra Harevester.
Those other EREVs use a giant battery with a ton of EV range, splitting the difference between a plug-in hybrid and a pure EV. Both plan to offer over 100 miles of battery-electric range. Nissan’s system, however, does not require such a large battery. It’s currently offered on many hybrids without a plug, and the plug-in version will only arrive with the Rogue.
16
Source: Nissan
Many automakers are planning larger batteries for EREVs because they believe those will be necessary to power larger electric motors. Nissan gets around this by allowing the 1.5-liter gas engine in the Qashqai e-Power to send its power straight to the motor through the inverter, rather than only to the battery.
Photo by: Nissan
The red car we tested had the existing, second-generation e-Power system. This silver car was a development mule for the third-generation version. They both use a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine, but this one is modified to run on a different, more efficient combustion cycle.
That comes with one notable downside: While both the second- and third-generation e-Power systems I sampled felt sophisticated, neither felt like a pure EV. When I slammed the accelerator, torque arrived in two distinct waves on the second-gen system.
First, the system instantly delivered the output available direct from the battery, a fraction of the overall output, which peaks at 187 hp. To get that number, you need the engine to spin up and provide its portion of the power output. So while the lack of gears and the single drive motor make the Qashqai smoother than most hybrids, it doesn’t have the endless, linear power of an EV.
The third-generation system is better. That’s what America is getting, and it smooths out the torque curve of the system to make it feel predictable. Instant-pedal-down action can still catch it gasping for its power, but smooth and linear inputs lead to smooth and linear outputs.
It’s a cut above many hybrid systems, instantly getting Nissan within spitting distance of segment leaders like Honda and Toyota. No wonder, as the company’s been refining this system for the better part of a decade. It’s just finally coming here.
Photo by: Nissan
Plus, it’s going to be extended-range. The 2026 Rogue PHEV will use an e-Power system with a far bigger battery. Don’t expect Ramcharger battery range. Think more RAV4 Plug-In Hybrid: 42 miles, or thereabouts. Plenty to get you to work and back, with a three-cylinder humming along in the background to keep you moving on longer trips.
Nissan notes that because the engine is not connected to wheels at all, it can also stay in its most efficient range. That’s why generation-three e-Power models have a new version of the 1.5-liter, built for a different, more efficient combustion cycle. Based on my experience, the system should make for a great plug-in hybrid experience, which I’ve said before is no easy feat.
It can’t come soon enough. Nissan is struggling in the U.S., with too many cars sitting on lots and requiring discounts. The Rogue is its hero car, with sales that peaked at over 400,000 units in 2018. Last year, it came in at under 250,000 sales, a result of slackening demand and a product that’s gotten stale.
The 2026 redesign will be a reset moment for Nissan. With Nissan struggling and CR-V and RAV4 hybrids flying off the lots, the Rogue e-Power may arrive at just the right time.
Contact the author: Mack.Hogan@insideevs.com
