Thinking Hybrid? | Green Energy News

June 12, 2005 – Vol.10 No.12

THINKING HYBRID?

Do you need a new car now, or can the old jalopy hang in there another year? If you can wait until the fall of 2006, or possibly a few months earlier, another hybrid should be available, the 2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid.

The built-in-the-U.S. car will use the current car’s base four-cylinder engine mated with Toyota’s hybrid technology such as that used in the Prius. Combined horsepower of the gasoline engine and electric traction motor should be about 200 horsepower.

Nissan is claiming the four-door sedan will be marketed for its better performance, lowered emissions, and of course better fuel economy. The car hasn’t been rated yet, but an average of 35 miles per gallon might be possible in real world driving. (The car won’t get Prius-like fuel economy because it’s bigger and heavier.)

Nissan doesn’t mention, of course, that Altima Hybrid could join the list of hybrids that could be converted by their owners to become a plug-in hybrid. Only cars that can be driven on electric power alone (gas engine off), such as the Toyota’s Prius or Ford’s Escape hybrid, can benefit from the conversion. In that conversion an extra battery pack is installed so that the vehicle can drive longer distances on battery power. Many short trips can be made with the gasoline motor never running.

No word yet from any car manufacturer if they are considering plug-in capabilities in the future.

The Altima Hybrid will be built in Smyna, Tennessee where the company has invested more than $10 million to adapt the plant for the car’s assembly. Nissan has yet to state what production capacity for the hybrid will be.

Visit Nissan (worldwide) at http://www.nissan-global.com/ For information on plug-in hybrids visit the California Cars Initiative at http://www.calcars.org/