Electric Nissan Qashqai under consideration for 2015 range
Nissan is weighing the launch of a fully electric Qashqai, with internal discussions suggesting an EV variant could join the crossover’s second generation.
Nissan is evaluating the introduction of a fully electric Qashqai for the model’s second generation, with internal sources and industry discussion in early 2015 pointing to the possibility of an EV variant joining the popular crossover range. The move would see Nissan leverage its experience with the Leaf to bring battery power to a segment that has so far seen few pure-electric options.
The second-generation Qashqai, launched in 2014, quickly established itself as a contender in the crossover market. Nissan’s success with the Leaf, which had already become the world’s best-selling electric car by 2015, gave the company a lead in EV technology compared to rivals. Bringing an electric Qashqai to market would allow Nissan to expand its EV offering beyond hatchbacks and target the growing demand for electrified SUVs.
Technical and market considerations
No official technical specifications have been released for a Qashqai EV. However, any electric version would likely draw on the Leaf’s battery and motor technology, which at the time offered a 24kWh battery and a range of around 124 miles on the NEDC cycle. Packaging a battery pack into the Qashqai’s larger crossover body would present engineering challenges, but could also allow for a larger battery and improved range if demand justified the investment.
The decision to launch an electric Qashqai would depend on several factors. Battery costs remained high in 2015, and Nissan would have to be confident of sufficient demand to justify the additional development and production expense. The crossover market was expanding rapidly, but pure-electric rivals were scarce, giving Nissan a potential first-mover advantage if it could bring a Qashqai EV to market ahead of competitors.
No green light yet, but industry watching closely
At the time of writing in early 2015, Nissan had not confirmed production or launch plans for a Qashqai EV. Industry sources suggested the company was actively studying the business case, with the outcome likely to depend on battery pricing trends and the pace of consumer adoption. Nissan’s European management had previously indicated that electrifying its crossover range was under consideration, but no firm timetable was set.
If approved, the electric Qashqai would join a growing stable of electrified Nissans and could help the brand meet tightening emissions regulations in Europe and other markets. For now, buyers interested in a fully electric Nissan crossover would have to wait, but the company’s track record with the Leaf kept expectations high.
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