I have just been to look at new qashqai at nissan showroom. The salesman explained how it works. Engine runs at 1000revs approx to charge battery. Battery then drives wheels. If battery goes flat reverts to engine. Is this brand new technology. I am a bit wary of buying new technology until proven. I had nissan pulsar when they first came out on motability. It needed new engine after 3 months and we all know what happened to pulsar.
The technology has been in Japan for some time but isnew in Europe/heare. The engine only every charges the battery to provide power to the electric motor that drive the wheels – the engine never drives the wheels. It will only manage a small amoint of miles without the battery kicking in and charging the battery, (in a similar way a HEV will only go a dhort distance on battery power). Depending on the speed your dong or how hard you accelerate, will depend how high the engine rev’s to keep charge in the battery. From memory thats between 1000 – 4000ish rpm. Others on here are getting 5-60’s mpg.
This will explain better than I or any salesman