Nissan’s own hybrid system will first appear on a RWD Infinity, probably the G model. This system uses a parallel system that has one electric motor but two clutches that will allow both the gasoline engine as well as the electric motor to be able to power the vehicle at the same time. In addition, Nissan’s own hybrid will use lithium-ion batteries, which are smaller and more efficient than the nickel-metal hydride batteries that are currently being used in most hybrids.

The two-clutch configuration works in an interesting way. During idling and when it’s stopped, the batter powers the motor. During regular driving, the engine powers the motor and it regenerates the battery. When the car is accelerating, the engine as well as the batter work together to make for a much smoother acceleration. During deceleration, energy from the brakes is conserved and is used to help regenerate the car’s battery.

These new batteries based on lithium-ion technology are also to be used in Nissan’s all-electric vehicle. This motor will be installed in a brand new Nissan model that has its own unique styling. It is expected that Nissan will release the all-electric vehicle in Japan in 2010, and that the vehicle will be available worldwide by 2012.

The Electric Vehicle (EV) is a part of Nissan’s R&D programs that are designed around vehicles with zero emissions. This vehicle will offer front-wheel drive, and will use the new motor. One of the more interesting things about this vehicle is that the lithium-on batteries will be installed underneath the floor of the car, so as not to lose cargo space or cabin space.

This step represents an important move as Nissan positions itself to be a major contender in the electric and hybrid vehicle markets.

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Nissan 2008 tested the car in front of journalists last week in Japan and the results were less than desirable. The vehicle suffered a few uncomfortable lags when the engine chimed in to help out the electric motor, for starters. Because of battery regeneration, deceleration was also quite wobbly.

Nissan Motor Co. is pinning its hopes on the new hybrid vehicle to help it catch Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in the race to provide the best green vehicles to a changing marketplace. To date, Nissan’s only hybrid is a version of the Altima car that is equipped with a Toyota-developed system.

I’m not sure of the specifics, but I’m sure that Nissan has some plans to ease out the kinks in its hybrid. But if Nissan cars aim to reach the same level as Honda vehicles or Toyota hybrids, they’ll have an uphill climb ahead of them. They also have a lot to learn, as Toyota looks to continue its dominance of the industry without even breaking a sweat.

Anyways, we compared notes about gas mileage. We noticed that I was getting about two to three miles a gallon better mileage than he was. We talked about our driving habits (he does more long distance driving than I do, for example) and about our driving styles, as well.

I pointed out that I tend to drive right at 50 miles an hour most of the time. I set my cruise to that speed. I knew it sounded very much like Jimmy Carter, 1970s energy-crisis talk, but then I pointed out that you have twice as much drag on your car at 70 as you do at 50. That alone is bound to affect mileage.

We got curious and did some research, too. We found out that you can also improve mileage by stopping in a slower manner. Something about the way the electric engine interacts with the brakes makes this more efficient than stopping quickly. We also discovered that driving a consistent speed is better for your mileage, because you aren’t forcing the engine to do extra work to speed up and slow down.

In the case of one of the best-selling Nissan cars, the Nissan Altima, that payoff only takes about 3 years. This, of course, assumes that the tax credit you get for buying a hybrid applies. The federal government only gives tax rebates on the first 60,000 hybrids a manufacturer sells, though, so if you’re coming late to the dance you won’t get it. The good news is that Nissan still has some available, whereas Toyota and Honda do not.

Without the tax credit, it takes more like ten years for the extra cost of the hybrid to pay off. In some states, however, this is mitigated by a reduced or eliminated sales tax on hybrid vehicles. The other thing that will affect the payoff is gas prices. The higher the price of gas, the more value I get at the pump.

Certainly I’m not suggesting that a hybrid vehicle isn’t worth buying based on the time it takes for a payoff; helping the environment is motivation enough for some folks. It’s just nice to know that you can do it without having to pay a ton of extra money to do so.

It was late March and, of course, I still hadn’t filed my taxes. I set aside an entire weekend to get everyting put into the tax software I was using. It was Sunday afternoon and the software popped up this question:

“Have you purchased a qualifying Hybrid vehicle?”

I’d completely forgotten about the tax credit available for those that buy a hybrid. It was just like finding that second decoder ring. No, maybe it was more like finding a $20 bill in your pants pocket when you take them out of the dryer. Either way, you get my point.

See, I didn’t buy the Nissan Altima Hybrid to save on taxes. I bought it for two reasons: First, I’ve always loved Nissan cars. Second, I wanted to do something good for the environment. The tax credit, even though the salesman at the dealership pointed it out, wasn’t really on my mind.

The same sort of thing happened to me the other day at the gas station. I pulled in behind a big SUV; I think it was a Suburban. Anyways, before I lifted the nozzle, I could see the owner’s gas bill. It took $125 to fill his tank; mine took $50.

For those unaware of how a hybrid vehicle works, the car is able to turn the force of deceleration that occurs during braking into energy that is used to recharge a battery. The battery then runs the car, only using the gas powered engine when there is not enough charge left in the battery. As well as being technically advanced and environmentally friendly, perhaps the most noticeable advantage to drivers is that the Nissan Altima Hybrid is able to provide a whopping 35 mpg in the city, and 33 mpg on the highway.

This also means that unlike a traditional gas powered car, the Altima Hybrid is actually more efficient in the city than on the highway as the starting and stopping of city driving keeps the battery charged and the engine is used less often.

While being ecologically friendly, make no mistake: this is still a Nissan Altima. Drivers can expect the same exhilarating experience from the Altima Hybrid as the have come to expect from the Nissan Altima. It comes with a four cylinder 2.5 liter engine with 198 horsepower. Power is transferred from the gas powered engine and electric motor using an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission, which makes for a very smooth and comfortable ride.

Stability and traction control are also included for safety, as well as Nissan’s advanced airbag system and anti-lock brakes. And while the Altima Hybrid is transferring braking power into storable energy for the battery, there is no interference with the feeling of the brakes.

For technophiles, the Altima Hybrid with the technology package option offers more technology than just the hybrid engine. An extremely user-friendly Bluetooth system allows hands-free calling with an LCD touch screen display for setup. The package also includes a 9 speaker Bose audio system with a 6 CD changer and MP3 compatibility, Radio Data System (RDS), and speed sensitive volume control that automatically adjusts the volume according to the speed of the vehicle. It also includes satellite radio and a GPS system with XM NavTraffic.

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Well, politicians for one. Barack Obama recently went on record criticizing Detroit automakers for not predicting the high cost of oil and gasoline and not doing enough to promote hybrid technology. When it was pointed out to Mr. Obama that his stance may be a little hypocritical seeing as he was current driving a Chrysler 300C, he promptly went out and purchased a hybrid vehicle. Other politicians had already done or have now followed his lead, including Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney. It seems that the gas and environment-saving cars are good for a few votes from the electorate.

Not to be left behind by the politicians, big name celebrities are also favouring the popular hybrid vehicles. It is not surprising that Ed Begley Jr. and Woody Harrelson, well know for their respective stances on the environment, have one. However a list of celebrities driving hybrids reads like a who’s who of the Hollywood elite, including Cameron Diaz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Carole King, Billy Joel, David Duchovny, Patricia Arquette, Jackson Browne and Bill Maher. Larry David, co-creator of Seinfeld, also purchased one to placate his wife Laurie, a die-hard environmentalist. "I’m doing something good, and my wife has sex with me more often" quipped David.

At a recent Hollywood fund-raiser, the line up of hybrid vehicles in the parking lot was overwhelming to Gail Reuderman Feuer, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "I said to my husband, ‘I don’t know if we’re going to be able to find our car afterward.’ They were all lined up. It was very exciting” said Reuderman Feuer.

While hardcore environmentalists may choose to continue riding their bikes until a completely fossil fuel-free vehicle is available, it’s great to see so many high profile characters taking hybrid Nissan vehicles seriously. A vehicle with 0 impact on the environment is a nice goal, but we live in a capitalist society. Before that car can become a possibility the major automakers have to know that there is a demand for the product. At least the people named above are proving to them that the demand is present.

For the latest in Nissan vehicles, please visit your Nissan dealers – Wilmington today.

One of the things mentioned in the article was that Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn bought the rights to Toyota’s hybrid technology for the new Nissan Altima hybrid family, but Nissan plans to come out with its own “home-grown” version within the next two years. Plus, the company plans to start selling new Nissan electric cars worldwide by 2010.

It’s going to be a busy few years for Nissan. With stiff competition in the hybrid and electric car markets, auto makers around the world are racing to create hybrid and electric cars that give consumers what they want, keep costs low, and reduce the impact on the environment. What all of the major auto manufacturers are starting to understand is that people will buy hybrid or electric if their core car needs are being met — they want their cars to look good, feel good, and do good for the environment and their pocket book.

For several years now fuel efficiency has been on the top of people’s lists for what they want in a car. Some experts suggest that this was an inevitable market reaction to the environmentally friendly green movement. When you add the fact that fuel prices seem to be going up every day, it’s no surprise that consumers are demanding cars that meet all needs, personally, financially, and environmentally.

If you’re in the market for a new Nissan car in the New Jersey area, make sure to stop by our Nissan dealers – New Jersey to test drive a new Nissan car or take a look at the new inventory on the Classic Nissan website.