Nissan is the one mass-market OEM in System E. It’s additionally the one Japanese automaker within the collection, and is dedicated to it by way of 2030.
It’s a part of the corporate’s Ambition 2030. Nissan says its “mission is to attain carbon neutrality and zero-emission automobiles by 2050, and to make electrical automobiles accessible to everybody, all over the place.” Particularly, “by fiscal yr 2030 aiming for an electrification mixture of 55% globally.”
There actually isn’t one other giant mainstream market auto producer that has so intently aligned its motorsports program with its strategic imaginative and prescient.
Nissan’s Historical past in System E
In 2018, Nissan entered System E as a partnership with a longtime workforce. In 2022, it then purchased that workforce and has operated as a factory-backed program ever since. With the workforce buy, Nissan has dedicated to the race collection by way of 2030 as a part of its Ambition 2030 program.
Nissan has frequently moved up the grid in System E because the seasons go. As a producer, Nissan was seventh in 2023 and simply completed third in 2024. Nissan NISMO System E Crew Principal Tommaso Volpe instructed me that the objective is to combat for the general championship in 2025.
As a producer, Nissan has developed its personal drivetrain system. This contains an inverter, motor, trans, regen system, and software program. That is the second yr utilizing the identical {hardware} system (mandated by the System E guidelines), however the workforce has seen large features from its software program growth.
This technique is used not solely within the Nissan NISMO System E workforce but in addition within the NEOM McLaren System E workforce. This permits for information assortment from 4 automobiles on the grid, two per workforce, one thing that’s frequent throughout System E.
Causes Nissan Is in System E
I sat down with Nissan NISMO System E Crew Principal Tommaso Volpe on the 2024 U.S. race in Portland, Ore. He defined to me that Nissan is in System E for 3 very particular causes:
- To turn into consultants in electrification
- To indicate that electrical automobiles are thrilling
- Data switch for future highway automobiles, to make them each thrilling and environment friendly
The primary two factors are straightforward to grasp and see with Nissan’s involvement on this race collection. The third is tougher to see, no less than for now.
System E Tech in Your Nissan
Within the early days of Nissan’s involvement in System E, a full 7 years in the past, there was quite a lot of data switch to the race program from its expertise in electrified highway automobiles. Volpe defined that road-to-track was the way it began, and only in the near past, we’re beginning to see track-to-road data switch.
However, no switch of {hardware} from Nissan’s System E race program has but made it to a manufacturing highway automotive. Whereas Volpe is aware of it will possible change within the subsequent few years, for now it’s simply software program that has made it from racecar to highway automotive. This isn’t all that stunning, as new manufacturing automotive growth cycles take a few years, whereas software program may be up to date often with over-the-air updates on most trendy automobiles.
Fascinating Details About System E
Whereas I had a good time at System E’s solely U.S. cease in 2024 in Portland, Ore., I additionally realized a bunch of attention-grabbing tidbits in regards to the race collection. There’s a lot happening on this electrified racing, and you must dive fairly deep to essentially get your head wrapped round a lot of it.
Listed here are among the enjoyable details that I found:
- A rear 350 kW motor can ship as much as 470 horsepower to the rear wheels.
- A entrance 250 kW motor is only for regen (doesn’t drive the automobile).
- In 2025 AWD will likely be used, however solely at sure occasions.
- 2024 System E race automobiles have a 41 kWh battery. As compared, the Nissan Ariya has both a 67 kwH or an 87 kWh battery.
- 2024 System E automobiles begin every race with solely about 60% of the ability wanted to finish a race, and don’t pit. The opposite 40% of power wanted to succeed in the end line is created by way of the regen system.
- In assault mode, 2024 System E automobiles can attain 60 mph from a standstill in simply 1.6 seconds.
- 2024 System E automobiles weigh simply 840 kg (1,852 kilos).
- There is just one spec tire utilized in System E, by Hankook. The tire is utilized in all circumstances, together with rain.
- Every automotive can solely use two units of tires on a single race weekend. Three units are allowed for double-header weekends.
- No tire heaters are utilized in System E.
- System E automobiles don’t have any traction management.
(An enormous due to Nissan for internet hosting me at this yr’s U.S. E-Prix. I very a lot sit up for following alongside as System E develops, and we begin to see electrical racing tech make its method into electrified highway automobiles.)