The Nissan Juke is one of the most popular compact crossovers in the UK, with more than 300,000 units sold since its launch in 2010. The current generation, introduced in 2019, features a sleek design, advanced technology, and a range of petrol and diesel engines. But what if you want an electric version of the Juke?
Nissan has announced that the next-generation Juke, expected to arrive in the decade's second half, will be an electric-only model with no internal combustion engine option. The company aims to make the electric Juke as affordable as the petrol model, starting from around $27,000 in the UK.
This ambitious goal is not without challenges, as electric vehicles (EVs) typically have higher upfront costs than their conventional counterparts, mainly due to the expensive batteries. However, Nissan is confident that it can achieve cost parity by leveraging its experience in EV production, its partnership with Renault and Mitsubishi, and its investment in its Sunderland plant, where the Juke is built.
Nissan’s EV strategy
Nissan is not new to the EV market. The company launched the Leaf, the world’s first mass-produced EV, in 2010 and has sold more than 500,000 units globally. The Leaf is also built in Sunderland, alongside the Juke and the Qashqai, another popular crossover. Nissan has recently introduced the Nissan Ariya, a larger and more premium EV crossover.
Nissan’s EV strategy is based on two key pillars: electrification and digitalization. The company aims to offer a diverse portfolio of EVs, from affordable city cars to high-performance sports cars, as well as innovative services and solutions that enhance the customer experience and create new revenue streams.
One of the main technologies that Nissan is developing is the e-POWER system, which combines a battery and an electric motor with a small petrol engine that acts as a generator. The e-POWER system allows the car to run on electric power only, while the petrol engine charges the battery when needed, eliminating the need for plugging in. Nissan claims that the e-POWER system offers the benefits of EVs, such as instant torque, smooth acceleration, and low emissions, without the drawbacks, such as range anxiety, long charging times, and high costs.
Nissan has already launched several models with the e-POWER system in Japan, such as the Note, the Serena, and the Kicks, and plans to introduce it in other markets, including Europe. The company has confirmed that the Qashqai, Juke’s bigger sibling, will offer an e-POWER option in 2022 and a hybrid option.
However, the Juke will not have an e-POWER or a hybrid option, as Nissan has decided to make it a pure EV. This decision is partly driven by the increasing demand for EVs in Europe, where stricter emission regulations and incentives push consumers and manufacturers to switch to zero-emission vehicles. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, EV sales in Europe increased by 137% in 2020, reaching a market share of 10.5%.
Another reason for making the Juke an EV is to differentiate it from the Qashqai and the Ariya, which will compete in the same segment of compact crossovers. Nissan hopes to attract new customers and retain loyal Juke fans by offering a unique proposition of an affordable and stylish EV.
Nissan’s EV challenges
While Nissan has a clear vision for its EV future, it also faces several challenges that could hamper its plans. One of the biggest challenges is the cost of batteries, which account for a large portion of the total cost of an EV. According to BloombergNEF, the average battery pack price was $137 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2020, down from $1,100 per kWh in 2010. However, this is still higher than the cost of an internal combustion engine, estimated at around $50 per kWh.
To reduce the cost of batteries, Nissan is pursuing several strategies, such as improving the efficiency and performance of its battery cells, increasing the scale and automation of its battery production, and collaborating with other automakers and suppliers to share costs and resources. Nissan is also investing in battery recycling and reuse, which can lower the environmental impact and extend the life cycle of batteries.
Another challenge for Nissan is the availability and accessibility of charging infrastructure, which is essential for the adoption and convenience of EVs. According to Zap-Map, a UK-based platform that provides information on charging points, there were 24,374 public charging devices in the UK as of January 2022, up from 15,116 in January 2021. However, this is still far from enough to meet the growing demand for EVs, especially in rural areas and on highways.
Nissan is working with various partners, such as governments, utilities, and retailers, to expand and improve the charging network in the UK and other markets. The company is also developing smart charging solutions, such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) systems, which allow EVs to store and supply electricity to the grid or to households, depending on the demand and price. These solutions can help balance the load on the grid, reduce the cost of electricity, and increase the value of EVs.