e-4ORCE of Nissan, the dual-motor AWD system for electric cars

Nissan has used CES 2020 to highlight its new all-wheel-drive system with four motors for electric vehicles.

Nicknamed e-4ORCE, the system uses two electric motors to deliver “instant torque to all four wheels”. The company also says it provides balanced, predictable power and handling that is “on par with many premium sports cars”.

The company has not gone into much detail, but it has assured that the system increases traction on a variety of road surfaces. It also promises to increase “driver confidence by faithfully tracking the driver’s intended line thanks to ultra-high-precision brake and motor control”.

Most all-wheel-drive systems focus exclusively on traction, but Nissan’s technology called e-4ORCE also takes ride comfort into account. To make the ride as comfortable as possible, the all-wheel-drive system uses regenerative braking from both the front and rear electric motors to help minimize pitching and diving. The company has noted this will be useful in stop-and-go traffic, as drivers and passengers will experience fewer jolts inside the cabin.

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Nissan e-4ORCE: this is the new technology the brand has presented at CES

To deal with potholed roads and off-line acceleration, the power is “optimized to maintain ride comfort by minimizing irregular movement”. Nissan has not given more details, but said the system benefits from lessons learned in developing the 4×4 system of the Nissan Patrol and the torque-split system called ATTESA E-TS fitted to the Nissan GT-R. While the latter model is about performance, Nissan says the e-4ORCE technology has been designed to manage power output and braking to deliver a smooth, stable driving experience.

Nissan has been working on e-4ORCE for some time, and the company will show a prototype based on the Nissan Leaf at CES. The model will be shown alongside the Ariya concept, which features an e-4ORCE all-wheel-drive system.

According to the vehicle manufacturer itself, the “e” stands for Nissan’s technologies enabled by a 100% electric motor drive system. “4ORCE”, pronounced “force”, evokes physical power and energy, with the “4” representing control driving capability across all four wheels.

“The all-wheel control technology of the e-4ORCE twin-motor system delivers precise handling and stability, giving drivers greater confidence and even more excitement than ever before,” said Takao Asami, senior vice president of research and advanced engineering at Nissan. “This technology enables excellent cornering performance and traction on slippery surfaces, and a comfortable ride for all passengers.” Importantly, CES 2020 will be held from January 7 to 10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.