Nissan has just given its hybrid technology a major real-world test. A Nissan Qashqai equipped with the latest-generation e-POWER system has traveled 1,980 km on a single tank of fuel, setting a new Guinness World Records title in the process.
The remarkable journey was completed without external charging or refuelling, demonstrating how far Nissan’s electric-motor-driven hybrid system can go while retaining the convenience of a gasoline-powered vehicle.
The record-setting drive took place in Colombia between July 14 and 17, 2026, taking the Qashqai from Bogotá to the Caribbean coast across a mixture of roads, traffic conditions and terrain.
Guinness World Records judges independently monitored the attempt and verified the result following a detailed review.
1,980 Km Without Stopping to Refuel
The biggest takeaway from Nissan’s latest achievement is the distance covered.
The Qashqai e-POWER completed 1,980 km on one tank, without plugging into a charger or stopping for additional fuel. The journey was designed to demonstrate the system’s efficiency and long-distance capability under real-world conditions rather than in a controlled laboratory test.
The route exposed the vehicle to different road surfaces, traffic levels, elevations and driving conditions as it traveled across Colombia.
That makes the achievement particularly interesting as drivers continue to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of conventional hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles.
The Qashqai Drives Like an EV, But Doesn’t Need a Charger
Nissan’s e-POWER system takes a different approach from a conventional hybrid.
The Qashqai’s wheels are driven exclusively by an electric motor. Instead of mechanically powering the wheels, the gasoline engine acts as a generator, producing electricity for the electric drivetrain when needed.
This means the driver gets characteristics familiar from an EV, including instant torque, smooth acceleration and regenerative braking, without having to plug the vehicle into a charging station.
Fuel is still added at a conventional gas station, making the system particularly appealing to drivers who want electric-motor driving without changing their existing refuelling habits.
What Makes Nissan’s New e-POWER System Different?
The latest generation of e-POWER uses Nissan’s 5-in-1 modular powertrain, combining the electric motor, generator, inverter, reducer and increaser into a compact system.
Regenerative braking also helps recover energy that would otherwise be lost during deceleration.
Nissan has continued refining the technology to improve efficiency, refinement and responsiveness while maintaining the flexibility associated with a gasoline-powered vehicle.
The result is a hybrid system that sits somewhere between a traditional gasoline car and a fully electric vehicle from the driver’s perspective.
Nissan Has Tested e-POWER Over Long Distances Before
The Colombian record is not Nissan’s first long-distance demonstration of e-POWER.
The company previously conducted extended driving challenges in the United Kingdom and Tasmania, using the tests to demonstrate the technology’s efficiency and ability to operate across different environments.
The new Guinness World Records achievement takes that effort further, with the Qashqai covering nearly 2,000 km on a single tank.
For Nissan, the result provides another real-world example of how e-POWER can deliver EV-like driving characteristics while eliminating concerns about finding a charger during a long trip.
Could e-POWER Be a Stepping Stone to EVs?
Nissan views e-POWER as an important part of its broader electrification strategy.
While battery-electric vehicles continue to expand into more markets, charging infrastructure and charging times remain important considerations for some buyers. An electric-motor-driven hybrid such as the Qashqai e-POWER offers a different solution.
Drivers get an electric motor powering the wheels, but the gasoline engine provides electricity when necessary. There is no requirement to install a home charger or plan a trip around charging stations.
That could make e-POWER particularly attractive to buyers who are interested in EV-like driving but are not yet ready to make the switch to a fully electric vehicle.
The 1,980-km Guinness World Records run in Colombia is therefore more than just an impressive mileage figure. It demonstrates the potential of Nissan’s latest e-POWER technology in the kind of varied, real-world conditions drivers encounter every day.
As Nissan continues its transition toward fully electric vehicles, e-POWER provides the company with another way to introduce more drivers to electric-powered driving.
