With the Department of Energy (DOE) recognizing the Kicks e-Power as a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) despite being, in all intents and purposes, a serial hybrid, Nissan Philippines has passed on additional savings gained from excise tax cuts to would-be customers.
Starting this July, the Kicks e-Power sees a P 60,000 price cut across all three variants—the EL, VE, and VL. This brings the SRP of the serial hybrid crossover to:
- Nissan EL – P 1,179,000 (from P 1,239,000)
- Nissan VE – P 1,279,000 (from P 1,339,000)
- Nissan VL – P 1,479,000 (from P 1,539,000)
“We are excited to offer the Nissan Kicks e-Power at a more accessible price point,” Nissan Philippines President Yasuhisa Masuda mentioned, “This initiative supports our mission in providing Filipinos with innovative and sustainable mobility solutions and also aligns with the government’s vision of a greener and more sustainable future for the Philippines.”
To recall, Nissan Philippines and their creative legal team found a loop hole in the poorly crafted Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or EVIDA Law.
Under Section 5 of the said law, Nissan’s legal team found that Battery Electric Vehicle or BEVs are defined as vehicles that use a traction battery as power source for vehicle propulsion. On the other hand, Hybrid Electric Vehicles or HEVs, are defined as vehicles that use a rechargeable energy storage system AND a fueled power source for propulsion.
Since the e-Power system only uses the electric motor and dinky 2.13-kWh lithium-ion battery to drive the wheels (the 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine is only there are a generator and isn’t connected to the wheels), Nissan creatively had the Kicks e-Power classified as a BEV. Much to the chagrin of other industry players, including protests (there’s even a petition on change.org against Nissan Philippines’ disinformation and false promotion), the carmaker got away with it.
Nissan’s move to classify the e-Power system as a BEV certainly set a precedence for all serial hybrids to follow. While the environment and general BEV adoption are the clear losers here, at least customers can benefit from a lower SRP for vehicles equipped with this Nissan tech.
If there is a combustion engine that burns fuel clearly not a bev. No explanation needed. It is only in the Philippines that this called a bev. Even journalists must stop calling it a bev. A bev is purely battery no matter what drives the wheels.
ReplyDeleteWe don't call it a BEV. Nissan approached me about this early last year, but I cringe at the thought of calling it a BEV.
Deletei think it doesnt matter anymore if its BEV or HYBRID. if am not mistaken, recently BEV, PHEV, HYBRID has now the same tax rate benefits.
DeleteThe biggest savings for the Kicks would be in the form of excise tax. BEVs are exempt from excise tax, hybrids are charged at 50 percent rate. This is separate from other tariffs imposed on the said vehicle.
DeleteThe author of the article clearly states it is a BEV by definition. The law states that it is a BEV.
DeleteIt’s your comment that makes zero sense.
Nice, Ang hybrid ng other brands wala pa price adjustment?
ReplyDeleteIt should come soon...
DeleteOnly 60K price reduction? Im interested to see how Nissan PH came up with that (or how much they kept as additional margin)
ReplyDeleteEarly this year after they got the confirmation of the reclassification of the Kicks e-power from a hybrid to BEV they immediately extended the battery warranty from 5 to 8 years. So on top of the 60k discount the owners also got an additional 3 years for their main battery.
DeleteGentlemen, I do hope you did a more thorough research before commenting. The Nissan e-power was classified as BEV prior to our country at the following countries:
DeleteUSA
Colombia
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Jamaica
Panama
Uruguay
This is were they got the idea of seeking reclassification after learning other countries classified the Nissan E-Power as BEV.
Good to know sir uly can't be persuaded to go along with this twisted definition. Let us see which reviewers or publications that drank the cool aid of Nissan.
ReplyDeleteThe 2025 Kicks is coming. :-)
ReplyDeleteNissan e-power was classified as BEV to different countries prior to ours namely:
ReplyDelete1. US
2. Colombia
3. Costa Rica
4. Guatemala
5. Jamaica
6. Panama
7. Uruguay
This was the basis for the reclassification.
Please do your research first po. Aren't you journalists by profession?
Those countries aren't the Philippines. Sure, we can use their laws as basis, but we could have closed the loophole for sure. Again, it's about spirit of the law versus letter of the law. Nissan clearly was able to use the letter of the law to re-classify the Kicks as a BEV...but that's very short term. It undermines the good will of their EVs like the Leaf and Ariya.
DeleteThis case is similar with gmos. Policies cite different terms/classifications for them when in reality they all are gmos. Not all laws correspond correctly with the technicalities simply because our policymakers arent that knowlegeable in every topic.
Delete2025 nissan kicks is on the way
ReplyDeleteI have to add that the article is plain biased and poorly written. It’s funny how many of you post comment based of this article. Definitions matter and ZEV (Zero Emissions Vehicle) is what the writer is talking about not a BEV. The BEV is defined as it is by the relevant Philippine government department. There is no loophole. A loophole is where one circumvents the rules through ambiguity. No such ambiguity here. It’s clear. The method of propulsion and braking is IDENTICAL to that of a BEV and nothing like that of a hybrid where the ICE provides main propulsion.
ReplyDeleteAlso guys pls remember where the electricity is coming from the majority of the time in the Philippines. It’s from fossil fuel power stations. Unless you have solar at home and charge through the day when it’s sunny. Your electricity ain’t that clean.
Please fact check y’all prior to making comment that is critical, when the foundations of your facts are just not there.
This is not unique to the PH. Several Latin American countries like Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, etc. have legislation classifying Nissan's E-Power system as a BEV (because of pure propulsion). This was passed way before the Kicks intro to the PH. FYI.
ReplyDeleteSpirit of the law versus letter of the law. Kudos to Nissan for actually using the letter of the law to get the Kicks classified as a BEV.
DeleteClassified as BEV favors the car buyers, the relevant gov't agency classified it as such, so lets leave it to that.
DeleteI expected more in terms of price reduction. Anyway, the Corolla Cross is a more sensible choice than this. Nissan missed a chance to undercut the competition.
ReplyDeleteUsually nssan ph gives 75k-120k discounts on kicks.
DeleteThose who like spirited driving or those who want to experience driving an EV without having range anxiety would prefer the Kicks over the Corolla Cross.
DeleteWell, the kicks is series hybrid. The corolla is a parallel hybrid. Technically a parallel hybrid is more advantageous over a series hybrid. Hence, the higher cost. And tests show that parallel hybrids are more fuel efficient than series hybrids. And more robust too bcoz it has a tranny.
DeleteIf this is the definition of Nissan then all vehicles are BEVs. Because all vehicles have a battery. Technically all vehicles can move on its own once you crank the starter using the battery even a couple of inches. Maybe Sarao will now be a BEV thanks to Nissan.
ReplyDeleteIn 10 years time, the battery will be almost dead or due for replacement.. wether you resell this car or keep it- you have to buy a new battery worth 6 figures including labor cost. I dont really see the benefits of a hybrid car. The fuel you save will be used to buy a new battery later on. And by that time, the car is old and clunky..
ReplyDeleteThat’s a bit short term thinker. Are iPhone batteries cost an arm and a leg after 5 years? Differently not, so it follows the same theory for EV batteries.
DeleteWow comparing the cost of an iphone to cost of EV battery. EV battery replacement will not only cost you an arm and a leg, but also your kidney. Average cost of EV replacement range from 7,000$ - 30,000$
DeleteThe prius's battery from 10 years ago still cost 2,000 to 8,000 dollars today.
DeleteWhere did you get info? Please research it will cost only usd200
DeleteVolvo 11kWH battery cost usd1,000 in Uk
DeleteWow iphone batteries to ev batteries same same. If I replace an iPhone battery I won't cost like more than half of the value of the phone. If I replace ev car battery in like paying for the entire value of the car. Actually evs are throw away objects that is why they don't hold value. You have to buy a new one and that is not good for the environment
ReplyDeleteWait, so the Kicks is exempted from 2 import duties then? EVIDA Law exempts it from import duties as it is classified as a BEV, then since it's manufactured in Thailand it's another import duty exemption due to the ASEAN Free Trade Area. Am I getting it right, Uly?
ReplyDelete