It’s looking like Tesla doesn’t have a lock on the fast-charging that encourages longer-distance electric vehicle journeys. While clearly in catch-up mode, a number of automakers are partnering with charging providers to install fast-charge stations at key points along major transportation routes. The latest is a partnership between Nissan and EVgo that will enable rapid charging at strategically located stops between Boston and Washington DC.

The 'I95 Fast-Charge ARC' (Advanced Recharging Corridor) will include nine charging sites along 500 miles of Interstate 95 with a total of 50 DC fast-chargers, each offering two fast-charge plugs each. Since technology marches on, the stations will have a capability of charging four or more EVs simultaneously at a power output of 50kW, with pre-wiring to enable easy upgrades for charging at up to 150kW once the technology is available consumer stations.

The Boston-DC project follows a similar project in California. With construction already underway, completion is expected in time for the launch of the all-new Nissan LEAF.

Standard half-ton pickup or heavy-duty variant? That’s the question often faced by those needing a pickup for commercial use, combined personal/business activity, or heavy-duty towing. It’s a tough choice because heavy-duty pickups really do offer levels of functionality that typically exceed that of light-duty pickups, but they’re also costlier, more cumbersome to maneuver, and usually less fuel efficient.

Nissan’s fully-redesigned Titan XD aims to solve this conundrum by combining the capability of a heavy-duty pickup with the fuel economy and affordability of a half-ton model. It delivers welcome functionality with a 5.6-liter Endurance gasoline V-8 or a notable 5.0-liter Cummins turbodiesel that delivers 310 horsepower and a formidable 555 lb-ft torque. The latter is capable of carrying a 2,000 pound payload or towing up to 12,000 pounds.

A half-ton 2017 Titan variant introduced just this summer shares the Titan DNA but is distinguished by a unique chassis some 14.7 inches shorter than that of the XD. No diesel powerplant is offered with the lighter-duty Titan, which is powered by the same 390 horsepower, 5.6-liter Endurance gasoline V-8 and connected to a seven-speed automatic transmission. An as-yet undisclosed V-6 will also be available for the half-ton Titan.

Titan XD benefits from the first application of the new Cummins M2 two-stage turbo system, which helps reduce turbo lag through precision balancing between high-pressure and low-pressure turbos. The engine’s Rotary Turbine Control provides solid performance across the powerband and manages exhaust gas temperatures. Efficiency-enhancing weight reduction is achieved with a compacted graphite iron cylinder block, high-strength aluminum alloy heads, and composite valve covers. The CGI block, along with the dual overhead camshafts, contributes to Nissan’s goal of delivering excellent noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics.

The XD features an extended 151.6-inch wheelbase to handle the higher towing and payload potential of the Cummins diesel while maximizing stability, handling, and ride comfort. It also uses a new heavy-duty, highly stable suspension design. Titan XD buyers can choose between several available hitches including an integrated gooseneck hitch engineered into the frame that’s easily accessible in the bed. It is also snow plow-capable.

Clearly, the Titan XD is the right size pickup for many chores. Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to overall driveability. The step up to a traditional heavy-duty pickup is more than many drivers care to deal with on a daily basis. Titan XD simply doesn’t feel as cumbersome as a bigger and heavier HD truck. We wouldn’t call it nimble, but it is certainly easier to maneuver, especially around town. Overall ride and handling is quite pleasant and on par with most half-ton pickups. We drove the Titan XD loaded near maximum payload capacity and it performed without complaint.

The Titan XD is offered in Crew Cab, King Cab, and Single Cab versions with three available bed lengths. A work truck version is also available. All are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Titan XD is offered in several trims including a rugged-looking Pro-4X model and a top-of-the-line Platinum Reserve. All except the Pro-4X can be had with two- or four-wheel drive. Inside, The Titan XD’s instrument panel integrates both analog and digital gauges and a 5-inch color display, plus diesel monitoring and maintenance displays. A 7-inch color monitor includes NissanConnect with navigation, mobile apps, and service.

While fuel economy estimates are not required for heavy-duty pickup models, expect the XD's Cummins diesel to provide about 20 percent better efficiency than a gas-powered V-8 while towing full loads. Our driving experience in an XD with a fully-loaded pickup bed realized a mpg average of just over 20 mpg…pretty impressive for an HD pickup.

The tires we roll on have characteristics that can differ greatly. Carefully chosen, a new set of tires can make your time behind the wheel quieter and the ride smoother, while others can deliver a harsher ride and transmit an unacceptable level of road noise to the cabin. Tire designs and compounds can also greatly influence handling and performance, which is one of many reasons tire manufacturers devote so much time and resources to advanced tire development and then proving their prowess on the track.

Beyond a focus on ride quality, performance, and tire life, an important trend in recent years has been the continuing refinement of low rolling resistance (LRR) tires that aim to improve fuel efficiency. Such tires are used on virtually every electric and hybrid vehicle for obvious reasons. Many automakers also equip their conventional vehicles with LRR tires since every little bit helps on the way to achieving the best possible fleet mpg average for their model lineup. All are keenly aware of the challenges ahead in meeting the mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) requirement of 54.5 mpg by 2025. Driving on tires with lower rolling resistance is a small but important part of the strategy.

Tire rolling resistance has the potential to positively influence urban fuel economy up to 4 percent and 7 percent on the open road. As a rule of thumb, a 10 percent reduction in tire rolling resistance will result in a one to two percent improvement in vehicle fuel economy. Hyundai presents a great example. The automaker’s Sonata Eco model gains about one mpg more in the city and three on the highway mainly through the use of LRR tires and smaller wheels, in this case 17-inch versus 19-inch on the standard model.

Drivers shouldn’t be surprised if fuel efficiency actually drops when worn tires are replaced with new LRR tires, even if they’re the same size, type, and brand. Simply, as tires wear their rolling resistance gradually drops, about 20 percent during the life of a tire as the tread depth and mass decreases. The payoff will come over time and not necessarily during the first miles running new LLR tires.

Various techniques are used to reduce rolling resistance. Reducing internal friction is one way that comes with no noticeable change in grip characteristics during braking and cornering. Another is changing the tread compound, which can change grip. This sometimes, but not always, means a tradeoff between fuel economy and performance.

Early LRR tires were noted for their harsher ride, a result of using much harder rubber compounds and stiffer sidewalls in an effort to reduce friction and flexing. Newer LRR tires use advanced compounding with silica-based or alternative oils to provide more pleasant ride characteristics. Early LRR tires also had reduced grip and wore more rapidly. This has changed significantly over time as tire technology has evolved.

Even so, the primary mission of LRR tires is minimizing rolling resistance and addressing safety considerations like wet weather handling and traction. Those looking for tires focused on high performance diving are not likely candidates for LRR tires.

Choosing replacement LLR tires for a Prius, LEAF, Volt, or other electric or hybrid can be relatively easy. Just replace the tires with ones identical to those that originally came with the car. Automakers producing 'green' cars spend considerable effort working with tire manufacturers in selecting the right LRR tire to maximize efficiency of a specific model. Still, there are quite a number of aftermarket tires developed for electrics and hybrids so choices are many.

For example, Yokohama's AVID S33D LRR all-season tires for third generation Toyota Prius hybrids and other small cars reduce fuel consumption while retaining all-season traction.  Like the AVID, the Yokohama Geolandar G055 BluEarth tires we’ve been testing on a crossover vehicle feature the company’s advanced, lightweight Airtex inner liner that combines the elasticity of rubber with the lightness and superior gas-barrier characteristics of plastic to reduce tire weight and rolling resistance. This tire, like others in the Yokohama line, uses orange oil tread compound to enhance performance and decrease the use of petroleum in tire production.

Among other low rolling resistance tire options on the market is Goodyear’s Assurance Fuel Max, which uses a special fuel-saving tread compound that reduces rolling resistance by up to 27%. Goodyear claims this nets up to 2,600 miles worth of gas savings over the life of four tires. Michelin offers an array of GreenX tire options including Defender, Primacy, and Energy Saver A/S tires. Efficiencies are achieved through multiple strategies including the use of a more rigid tread block to lower rolling resistance and silica-based tread compound to keep tires running cooler. Toyo’s Versado Eco Touring all-season tires are designed to improve fuel efficiency for hybrid, electric, and other vehicles using naturally derived tread compound materials, a low rolling resistance design, and a recycled polyester casing to conserve natural resources.

While plenty of LRR tires are offered for a wide range of vehicles, it’s not always easy to choose since efficiency comparisons are not yet available. Traction, wear, and temperature resistance ratings are to be found but efficiency is glaringly missing, although there is hope.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed a tire label that would provide wet traction, tread wear, and fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) ratings on a 0-100 scale for replacement tires. It has also done extensive testing to generate data for such a label. While not yet implemented, this will be of real value to those shopping for tires that will deliver improved environmental performance in the future

Here’s a thought: What if you never had to wash your car? Just think of the time and money that would no longer need to be devoted to this task, let alone the water saved in an increasingly water-starved world. That’s the concept being forwarded by Nissan through an electric LEAF sporting a special superhydrophobic and oleophobic paint designed to repel water and oils. Marketed by UltraTech International, Ultra-Ever Dry self-cleaning paint works by creating a layer of air between the car’s finish and an often hostile outside environment. The net effect is keeping standing water and road spray from messing up the car’s surface.

Will we see this anytime soon? It does appear that Nissan is taking this seriously, and the paint has been undergoing testing by engineers at Nissan Technical Center Europe. While there are no plans to offer Nissan models with the special paint, the automaker says it may make the paint treatment available as a future aftermarket option.

 

Nissan’s one-of-a-kind Frontier Diesel Runner made its first appearance at the Chicago Auto show, illustrating this automaker’s interest in the increasingly important clean diesel pickup market. Powered by a 2.8-liter Cummins turbo diesel with nearly 200 horsepower and, more importantly, some 350 lb-ft torque, the pickup features the performance and functionality required of today’s pickup buyers who often combine work and personal applications.

The Diesel Runner is based on Nissan’s Frontier Desert Runner 4x2 model and was created to gauge consumer reaction to a diesel-powered midsize Nissan pickup. No doubt, things will go in that direction. Nissan already has a partnership with Cummins to provide 5.0-liter turbodiesel V-8s for its next-generation Titan full-size pickup that’s arriving in 2015.