Nissan Note e-Power spotted in India

In October 2017, Nissan had announced that it had started testing its e-Power technology in India. The latest spy images of the Nissan Note e-Power confirm the fact that the carmaker is evaluating range-extender hybrids for the Indian market.

The spy images suggest that a 'Medalist' variant of the Note is being tested in India, however it is lacking the e-Power badges. The front end features Nissan's V-shaped chrome grille and large wraparound headlights. The note has a distinctly tall side profile while the rear features vertical tail lights.

The Note e-Power is a five-door hatchback that uses a 1.2-litre petrol engine as a range-extender. Primary propulsion is achieved using an electric motor with an output of 108 BHP and 254 Nm. The petrol engine that produces 78 BHP and 103 Nm of torque works as a power generator to charge the batteries, which in turn power the electric motor. Unlike electric cars, a range-extender hybrid does not require charging infrastructure.

Now, range-extenders like the Note e-Power are considered as hybrids, which would put it in a higher tax bracket compared to full-electric cars. It would be interesting to see if the government reclassifies range-extenders under the new GST structure. Apart from the Note e-Power, Nissan is also evaluating the all-electric Nissan Leaf for India. 

Source: Autocar India