How does Nissan e-Power work?

The Nissan e-Power hybrid where the petrol engine generates power to an electric engine to drive the vehicle. Is this the same principle which has been used on British Railways diesels since the 1950s?

Asked on 28 May 2025 by

Answered by David Ross

Broadly speaking yes - diesel electric locomotives and the Nissan e-Power both use an internal combustion engine to generate electricity to power electric motors, as this system allows the internal combustion engine to operate at peak efficiency while benefitting from the specific capabilities of electric motors, while at the same time avoiding some of the drawbacks of purely driving a vehicle from ICE or electric motors.

Tags: hybrid cars

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