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With 10,000 times faster rear response than a mechanical differential, electric tech has the potential to drastically improve off-road driving
Just recently, Nissan whipped the covers off the all-new X-Trail e-Power with E-Force, revealing the brand’s first electric all-wheel drive system.
Nissan states that the E-Force all-wheel drive system, which the Japanese carmaker brands as e-4orce, has a 10,000-times faster rear torque response than a mechanical four-wheel drive system.
Nissan’s E-Force system works by independently and electronically controlling power sent to each wheel via two electric motors, which Nissan says aids drive smoothness and comfort, but also is a big plus when in tough off-road situations where more power may be needed on a certain wheel.
Speaking with Chasing Cars, Nissan executives were not willing to be drawn on what NIssan models would gain E-Force in future, but the manufacturer was keen to describe how dynamic the system is across different terrains and surfaces.
In questioning, Nissan revealed that the E-Force system was scalable for differently-sized vehicles – including larger four-wheel drives in segments beyond the X-Trail midsize SUV that will soon gain the system.
It begs the question about whether a future electrified Nissan Patrol will use E-Force to further bolster its off-road capabilities.
Nissan execs weren’t willing to talk about the possibility of a hybrid-powered Patrol, but it’s something that would make perfect sense in the current EV-friendly climate.
Currently, the Nissan Patrol is powered by a 5.6-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine that makes 298kW and 560Nm. And with a claimed fuel economy of 14.4L/100km, it’d be a sitter for a bit of hybrid assistance on the side to bring this down, while E-Force could allow engagement of the front wheels more quickly.
The other off-road option is an E-Force-powered Navara, but Nissan was quick to shut down any ideas around e-Power systems paired with diesel engines.
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