By the end of the decade, Nissan expects to release 15 new electric cars, three of which have already been released: the LEAF, Ariya, and and the Kicks seem to be taking charge . The mass-production EV manufacturer is reportedly discontinuing the LEAF, which may have an impact on purchasers in the Philippines who were first introduced to the electric vehicle two years ago. Even though Nissan is introducing a new electric vehicle, the Kicks e-Power, which appears to be a more practical vehicle because it is an SUV, Nissan in the Philippines has announced that the car will be on sale, with full servicing and maintenance. As in many other countries, SUVs and crossovers are more popular in the Philippines than sedans. The much-anticipated all-new Kicks e-POWER was recently given to a select group of members of the local motoring press as well as content creators by executives of Nissan Philippines (NPI), advancing the local electrification strategy with yet another cutting-edge innovation that will excite Filipino drivers as they drive on a daily basis.
The movement toward electric transportation is picking up speed. According to Juan Manuel Hoyos, the recently appointed NPI president, more Filipinos are eager to switch to more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient products, including vehicles.
Although the second generation LEAF was introduced in the Philippines, and recent inventories reveal it has been updated with e-Power and software changes, this version, which was debuted back in 2018, is still strong and well-liked since it features a hatchback design. The LEAF will continue to be a staple in the brand’s range of electric vehicles, according to CleanTechnica sources at Nissan America and Nissan Philippines. However, the sources did not say whether or not the LEAF would receive any more updates. The price of the LEAF in the Philippines is roughly $58,500 (PhP2,798,000), which is about $20,000 more than the cost of a similar vehicle in the US. That is the system of taxes and import duties’ fault. The Philippine Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), which was recently put into effect, did not appear to have much of an impact on the country’s EV pricing, although it did lead to the proliferation of small Chinese-made EVs. {Story to come} The former Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga, Philippines, was turned into a local race track by Nissan, who also invited several dealers and members of the media there. The brand-new Kicks e-POWER was unveiled by business executives, led by chief powertrain engineer Naoki Nakada and Alliance powertrain engineering director for e-POWER Akihiro Shibuya, during a walk-through and a thrilling track activity.
The all-new Kicks e-POWER provides a gateway for customers to accept electrified vehicles while still offering a pleasant and enjoyable ride, staying true to our mission of bringing innovation for excitement. According to Hoyos, Nissan is providing customers with a high-performance car alternative that allays worries about driving range and a lack of charging infrastructure.
Drivers experienced the immediate acceleration that comes with the entirely electric motor-driven technology that e-POWER offers at the 4.2-kilometer Clark International Speedway. The e-POWER, in contrast to traditional hybrids, uses Nissan’s current EV technology and adds a gasoline engine whose sole purpose is to charge the battery rather than provide power to the wheels. This produces a ride that is more powerful and fuel-efficient than a standard petrol-powered automobile while also being quieter (and perhaps emitting less emissions).
The Kicks eliminates the range-anxiety problem that so many purchasers of electric vehicles experience, unaware that the switch to electrification also involves changing one’s thinking. EV advocacy has not yet gained much support in the Philippines, but vehicles like the Kicks could change that. Toyota has been selling the Prius for many years and following that, numerous other hybrids. This non-hybrid vehicle configuration essentially functions as a gasoline generator to power the massive floor-mounted lithium batteries.
Drivers will enjoy the same thrilling yet silent ride that fully electric vehicles have to offer with e-POWER. Nakada explained during his walkthrough that the car’s e-Pedal Step is a special feature that will allow users to accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal. Its precise electric motor control at 1/10,000 of a second will demonstrate how responsive this car is.
All of this contributes to very smooth daily driving. He said that it also makes city driving simpler and less stressful, especially considering how many Filipino drivers must regularly contend with high traffic.
Nissan is now on schedule to meet its objective of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 thanks to the launch of Kicks e-POWER in the Philippines. The company also intends for every all-new Nissan model offered in important markets to be electrified by the early 2030s.
In Japan, the brand-new Kicks e-POWER is highly appreciated. Hoyos concluded that the vehicle’s arrival in the Philippines this August will bring more drivers closer to environmentally friendly driving by integrating this technology into their daily lives.
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