If it is true that there is no mechanical connection between the combustion engine and the final drive of the Nissan eNote just presented, this would be the first really serial hybrid drive in larger series ever, let alone foresee systems with combustion engines as range extenders.

One may look forward to an even more detailed representation of the construction than in the first video below. Too often, announcements have not come true, e.g. at of GM's Ampera/Volt. Why? Because it does not make any sense to convert chemical energy into kinetic energy and then again make electric energy in order to get kinetic energy again.

And where could still be a saving effect? Perhaps in the fact that the petrol engine is operated optimally under certain, very special conditions. However, one operating state is not enough, because the electric motor has 2.5 times as much torque as the combustion engine. Where does it get this from? It is only available for a very short time from the battery.

Its maximum output is also significantly higher than that of the four-cylinder engine. Any resulting maximum speed is only possible for a short time. And the combustion engine has to keep pace and nominal speed. So it is not always a quiet murmuring engine. Maybe in a very much speed limited country like Japan.

However, the car will perform almost even better in official fuel consumption tests than hybrid cars anyway. One announces is already made with 2.7 instead of 3.7 l/100km at the normal Note. Anyone who considers it even close to a practical value, will be disappointed. 01/18