YOKOHAMA, Japan, March 9 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor Co Ltd on Thursday said it will overhaul its approach to
powertrains for all-electric and hybrid petrol-electric vehicles
as it aims to bring hybrid prices in line with those of
petrol-powered cars by 2026.
The Japanese automaker said it will use the same components
across models to make electric powertrains - the assembly which
propels a vehicle - smaller and lighter, and reduce development
and production costs by 30% within three years versus 2019.
It will also use solid-state batteries with materials that
are cheaper than those usually used, such as nickel and cobalt,
Senior Vice President Toshihiro Hirai told reporters.
"Materials that don't use such expensive precious metals are
being developed, which will be a major factor in reducing
costs," Hirai said.
The effort is among many by automakers trying to make
new-energy vehicles more affordable, such as by reducing the
cost of electric powertrains which have yet to achieve parity
with those used in traditionally powered vehicles.
Nissan will apply its streamlined approach to powertrains to
different sizes of vehicles, expecting to equip such vehicles as
micro "kei" and mid-sized cars from 2024 or 2025, Hirai said.
The powertrain size and weight reduction will improve
vehicle performance, such as by making driving in the snow or on
sand more stable, the automaker said.
Nissan became one of the first mass-market electric-vehicle
makers with its Leaf model more than a decade ago. It aims to
introduce 27 electrified models, including 19 all-electric
vehicles, by fiscal year 2030.
(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
@danielleussink;))
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