Nissan Altima Driving Range

By: Kara Gilmour
Staff Writer
Published: Oct 19, 2009

Nissan Altima Hybrid Fuel Economy Results

The Nissan Altima Hybrid is equipped with an excellent drivetrain that maintains excellent performance and efficiency. The Altima Hybrid was designed for buyers seeking low emissions and a high fuel efficiency car. Moreover, car owners seem happy with their decision.

"When developing the Altima Hybrid, Nissan engineers had a requirement to make it a Nissan-style hybrid, not just a fuel efficient car. This is a key reason that the Altima Hybrid has done so well when stacked up against the competition, such as in the recent comparison by a leading automotive enthusiast magazine, which called the Altima Hybrid ‘the best' among the hybrids tested," Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, said in a statement.

Nissan Altima Hybrid adds a standard auto door-lock function and four new exterior color choices (nine total): Red Brick, Navy Blue, Sonoran Sand and Mystic Jade. The eco-friendly car is part of Nissan's ongoing efforts in the area of environmental protection and vehicle efficiency. The company's aim is to provide the right technology to the right market at the right time and right value to the customer.

The Altima Hybrid powertrain mates a refined version of Nissan's QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and standard electronically controlled CVT with an advanced electric drive motor/generator that increases the fuel economy while maintaining low tailpipe emissions. Altima Hybrid is rated as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) and emits almost no evaporative emissions. The drive system creates a synergy between its electric motor and its gasoline engine.

The advanced energy drive system shares duties between the gasoline-powered 4-cylinder and the emissions-free electric motor, allowing the Altima Hybrid to run solely on electric power under certain driving conditions, especially during traffic situations. If extra performance is needed, the gasoline engine starts instantly and smoothly adds power as required.

Altima Hybrid is estimated to have a hybrid system net power rating of 198 horsepower (148 kW). EPA fuel economy is estimated at 35 MPG (miles per gallon) in the city and 33 MPG on the highway. Combined with Altima's standard 20-gallon fuel tank, the Altima Hybrid has a projected driving range of up to 700 miles between each fill-up.

In order to recharge the battery, a generator places resistance on the drive shaft during braking. Altima Hybrid's Regenerative Brake System calculates braking force generated by brake pedal operation and controls the regenerative brake force to convert kinetic energy into electric energy, optimizing energy regeneration. The system converts the vehicle's kinetic energy to usable electric energy that is stored in the system's 244.8V Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery for eventual use by the electric motor. Nissan's proven QR25 4-cylinder engine has been refined for use in the fourth generation Altima, with a larger intake manifold, increased compression ratio and reduced friction characteristics in comparison to the previous generation.

The engine also features continuously variable valve timing, modular engine design, micro-finished crank journals and cam lobes, molybdenum-coated lightweight pistons and electronically controlled throttle. Helping to provide smooth acceleration and maximize powertrain efficiency is Altima Hybrid's hybrid system-specific eCVT, which works in conjunction with the Hybrid Vehicle-Electric Control Unit (HV-ECU) to determine which power source or combination of power sources will turn the wheels. Altima Hybrid's electric motor produces high torque at low RPM, allowing it to utilize its Electric Vehicle (EV) mode to power the car from a standing idle and through initial acceleration without the assistance of the gasoline engine.