Nissan e-Pedal Step: a step in the right direction

Word has gotten out by now about Nissan’s own entry into the local subcompact crossover category. That would be the Kicks, armed with no less than the automaker’s successful e-Power series hybrid system. But the powertrain brings another remarkable feature in the form of the e-Pedal Step.

In an era of rising fuel prices, Nissan Philippines is changing the game

This refers to the one-pedal acceleration and braking system fitted on e-Power models. Nissan Philippines, Inc. (NPI) conducted an experiential drive of the Kicks for members of the motoring media, serving as an opportunity for me to experience not just e-Power, but e-Pedal Step as well.

While the idea of an electric vehicle powered by a combustion engine sounded like an intriguing proposition, the thought of making a vehicle run and stop with just a single pedal seemed downright strange to me, at best. Is it nothing more than just a new-fangled gimmick?

Former race driver Louis Ramirez giving the rundown on what to expect aboard the Kicks e-Power

Running our test drive unit around Aseana Ave. and J.W. Diokno Blvd. in Parañaque, the e-Power system didn’t fail to meet my expectations. Torque was instantly available for acceleration, and the needle had no trouble climbing up all the way to 100 kilometers per hour on long stretches of road.

Considering the ease with which the Kicks devoured the asphalt in front of us, I wondered how the vehicle can be brought to a stop without using the conventional way i.e. stepping on the brake pedal. Former race driver Louis Ramirez, sitting shotgun, assured me that the e-Pedal Step can handle slowing down the vehicle safely.

The steeds for the day waiting to be mounted

I had gunned the Kicks past an intersection towards another traffic stop, whereupon Louis advised me to simply ease my foot off the pedal. It sounded a bit counterintuitive for those of us accustomed to alternating between the gas and brake pedals in city driving, but I complied with the knowledge that the guy knows what he’s talking about.

Indeed, I could feel the brakes clamping down on the rotors, but not overwhelmingly so. The learning curve lies mainly in fighting the urge to step on the brake pedal and bring the Kicks to a sudden stop. As a side benefit, the energy recovery system was already busy harvesting the heat from the brakes to convert into electricity with which to charge the onboard battery.

Nissan's e-Pedal Step system regulates braking force according to vehicle speed

The e-Pedal Step accomplishes its purpose by measuring the amount of pedal pressure and vehicle speed in returning the necessary braking force. For instance, strong braking is produced when either the gas pedal is floored or the vehicle is running at low to medium speed, which is usually the case in rush hour traffic. Good for avoiding rear-ending the car in front or the random pedestrian popping up on your field of vision.

Meanwhile, on high-speed highway cruises where the driver is not inclined to press the pedal excessively, the deceleration is kept low similar to engine braking on a combustion-powered car. Apart from sparing the driver the chore of having to press the gas pedal constantly just to sustain forward momentum, it also avoids abrupt stops that could result in injuries such as whiplash.

The resulting energy recovered from the brakes makes e-Pedal Step especially handy on long drives

With repeated use, the e-Pedal Step taught me to regulate the way I eased off the gas pedal to get the braking force I wanted, without bobbing my passengers’ heads. The standard brake pedal was needed only to bring the Kicks to a complete stop, while we were waiting for a break in traffic. Take note, the e-Pedal Step automatically engages when the Kicks is placed in Eco and Sport drive modes.

The country’s struggles with rising fuel prices is one thing that the Nissan Kicks e-Power is prepared to address. But as it turns out, Nissan also has a solution for the fatigue normally associated with driving in our dreaded traffic as well, demonstrating that e-Pedal Step is the proverbial step in the right direction for a new age of motoring.  

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