| Production under way on Nissan Altima Hybrid at Smyrna plant |
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Nissan project trainer Marty Scott (left) and technician Mike Lyman (right) install the battery that powers the 2007 Altima Hybrid. Production launched Monday at Nissan's Smyrna manufacturing facility.
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Nissan's Smyrna manufacturing plant began production Monday on its first hybrid vehicle. The 2007 Altima Hybrid goes on sale in January in eight states excluding Tennessee.
The Altima Hybrid has very low emissions and has been certified to meet California emissions requirements. The vehicle will only be sold in states that have adopted California emissions regulations: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
"When you enter an important new technology segment such as hybrid electric vehicles, you want to lead with your best – and this next-generation 2007 Altima is clearly one of the best all-around vehicles Nissan has ever created," said Bill Bosley, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America, Inc. in a statememt. "The Altima Hybrid is an environmentally friendly vehicle that is completely driver-friendly as well."
The Altima Hybrid powertrain mates a refined version of Nissan's QR25 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and standard electronically controlled CVT (continuously variable transmission) with an advanced electric drive motor/generator that increases fuel economy while maintaining low tailpipe emissions. The Altima Hybrid is rated as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) and emits almost no evaporative emissions.
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 if appropriate, especially during stop-and-go driving, according to Nissan. If extra performance is needed, the gasoline engine starts instantly and smoothly adds power as required.
The Altima Hybrid is estimated to have a hybrid system net power rating of 198 horsepower (148 kW). EPA fuel economy is estimated at 41 miles per gallon in the city and 36 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 fill ups. |
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