Since the emergence of the Toyota Prius, a single environmentally-friendly car has yet to receive the same amount of attention that the Nissan Leaf has. But just why is it so special? There are an array of other electric cars coming to the market, but there appears to be something special about this particular model.
The Nissan Leaf has an all-electric range of 100 miles in city driving and produces no local air pollution. Like other electric cars, this will help reduce oil consumption and strengthen energy security – the possibility of having a renewable source to power an engine is a very appealing thought indeed.
The biggest fears that have arisen with the emergence of electric cars are speed, reliability and cost; however Nissan have quashed these fears with the announcement of the specifications shown below.
The vehicle will cost approximately $32,780 in the USA, ¥3.76 million in Japan, 35,000 in European countries and £28,990 in the UK. This price includes the battery package and tax incentives and subsidies.
The top speed of the car is over 87mph, with a motor rated at 80kW and 210 lb·ft.
The car can travel from approximately 62 miles to around 138 miles, depending on weather conditions, traffic, load and style of driving. The battery will have a lifespan of 5-10 years with a Nissan guarantee of eight years, excluding Nissan contract hire deals.
Due to the reduced noise coming from an electric car, Nissan have fitted warning sounds to alert pedestrians – this will make a noise easy for those outside to hear but not to distract occupants of the vehicle. Nissan however has received some complaints that the driver is able to turn the noise off.
There are three ways to charge the vehicle with two charging receptacles. There is a standard SAE connector that can charge it in about 20 hours from a standard 110/120 volt outlet. Alternatively, it can charge in 8 hours using a 220/240 volt supply. The quickest method is a level 3 quick charger which is expected to be installed at dealers – this can charge the car in around 30 minutes.
Nissan has created a highly-influential and impressive electric car with the Leaf and it is expected to revolutionise environmentally-friendly automotive engineering when it arrives on the roads in the next two years.
