Nissan Planning to Electrify All New Models by Early 2030s

author: Vineeth Joel Patel   

Recently, General Motors announced an outline for its electrification plans, as well as its goals of becoming carbon neutral. Not one to be outdone, Nissan followed it up with goals of its own. While Nissan was one of the first automakers to come out with a mass-produced electric car with the Leaf, the Japanese automaker is somehow playing catch-up with its goals.

New EVs Coming By 2030

Recently, Nissan claimed that all of its "new vehicle offerings" in key markets, which include Japan, China, Europe, and the U.S., would be all-electric. These new vehicle offerings are expected to arrive by the early 2030s. In addition to helping Nissan be more competitive in a segment it practically created, the decision to offer more EVs is part of the automaker's plans to become carbon neutral by 2050.

"We're determined to help create a carbon-neutral society and accelerate the global effort against climate change," said Nissan Chief Executive Officer Makoto Uchida. "Our offering in electrified vehicles will continue to expand around the world, and this will make a major contribution to Nissan becoming carbon neutral. We will continue to drive innovation that enriches people's lives as we pursue a sustainable future for all."

Nissan's plans on which vehicles will be electrified are ambiguous. Will Nissan electrify current nameplates, like the Altima, Rogue, and Sentra? Competitors, like Honda and Toyota, offer electrified versions of their respective compact sedans, midsize sedans, and compact SUV – Nissan doesn't. If Nissan wants to be competitive, it's going to have to electrify these models or introduce all-new ones that compete in the same segments.

Carbon Neutral By 2050

Still, to electrify its vehicles to become carbon neutral, Nissan is looking into four major areas: solid-state batteries, more efficient e-POWER powertrains, development of a battery ecosystem to support onsite power generation, and developing innovations in the manufacturing process to support higher productivity.  

Making electric vehicles is only one part of going neutral for automakers. To reach carbon neutrality, automakers have to change everything in the production process from extracting raw materials to end-of-life recycling. Despite being one of the first automakers on the market with an EV, Nissan's goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 is well behind its competitors.

General Motors has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040, Ford set a date for 2050, Volvo's date is set at 2040, and Volkswagen wants to reach the goal by 2050. While other automakers are planning on going carbon neutral around the same time as Nissan, the Japanese automaker had a head-start on all of them and should be well ahead of the pack.

Nissan's new plans could have been introduced because of Japan's latest plans to eliminate the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by the mid-2030s. The country is looking to shift sales to electrified vehicles, including hybrids and fuel cell cars.

Vineeth Joel Patel

Joel Patel has been covering all aspects of the automotive industry for four years as an editor and freelance writer for various websites. When it comes to cars, he enjoys covering the merger between technology and cars. In his spare time, Joel likes to watch baseball, work on his car, and try new foods