The Contribution Prize of the Ichimura Prizes in Industry was awarded to the Japanese carmaker by the New Technology Development Foundation for its one-motor, two-clutch parallel full-hybrid system.
In its 44th year, the Ichimura Prizes in Industry is given to an excellent technology developer, or group of developers, who have contributed significantly to an industrial field. Nissan was the only automotive manufacturer to pick up an award this year.
Its hybrid system was highlighted for its lightweight system and simple structure. It has been developed for passenger cars and achieves compact car-level fuel efficiency while still offering acceleration, performance and driveability. It is available in both the Nissan Fuga and Infiniti M (pictured) models.
Previously, hybrid systems with torque convertors had been preferred to clutch systems in an effort to achieve smooth operation. However, Nissan’s engineers achieved smooth driving with motor and clutch control technology; as well as high response lithium-ion batteries.
