Nissan thinks secret new hybrid technology will pay off big

Nissan is making big moves in the world of electrification. Over the next five years, the Japanese automaker plans to completely overhaul its powertrain lineup with a mix of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and the emerging extended-range EVs (EREVs).

While EVs dominate most automaker strategies, Nissan is considering EREVs as a smart solution for larger vehicles that traditionally rely on gas power. Let’s break down their approach.

What the heck is an EREV?

Think of an EREV as a middle ground between a plug-in hybrid and a full-on EV. With a smaller battery than a pure EV (around 20-30 kWh compared to the typical 60-135 kWh), the vehicle is paired with a gas engine that acts exclusively as a generator for the battery. The result? You get longer driving ranges without needing an enormous, costly battery.

The difference may seem marginal, but the setup could support more trucks and SUVs that currently struggle with the full EV treatment. Larger vehicles have always come with higher price tags and profit margins. But as the auto industry shifts to electrification, these vehicles also require much larger, heavier batteries to match the range of their gas-powered counterparts. That’s an expensive problem. Ford already abandoned plans for a full-size electric SUV because the economics just didn’t make sense. This is exactly where Nissan’s interest in EREVs comes into play.

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Where EREVs fit in Nissan’s lineup

At Nissan’s Fast Forward event, chief planning officer Ponz Pandikuthira shared that the company’s larger vehicles — like the Rogue, Murano, and Pathfinder — are prime candidates for EREV technology. While today’s battery tech makes full-electric versions of these SUVs difficult, an EREV setup could help them go electric sooner. Even better, EREVs could outperform current EVs when it comes to hauling and towing, offering faster refueling and greater range.

As battery tech improves, Pandikuthira said Nissan will aim to extend EREVs to its biggest models, such as the Armada, with the ultimate goal of transitioning to full EVs.

Battery breakthroughs on the horizon

Gas generators aren’t the automaker’s only plan to improve its electrified lineup. Nissan is also investing in new battery technology. Starting in 2026, the company will roll out a next-gen lithium-ion battery with 25% more energy density. This will improve range and reduce costs, making EVs more affordable.

Looking even further ahead, Nissan hopes to introduce solid-state batteries by 2028. These will charge faster, be lighter, and offer double the energy density of current batteries—key factors in making EVs a more viable option for all types of vehicles.

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Final thoughts

As usual, the path toward electrification is far from linear in the automotive world. While Nissan is still working towards a pure EV lineup, intermediate solutions like EREVs are an important stepping stone for the automaker’s immediate future. If only the industry could quit introducing new abbreviations every month we’d really be making progress.