A Look at the Upcoming Nissan LEAF Electric Vehicle
While most of the hype and press about electric vehicles has been focused on Chevy’s Volt, Nissan has been quietly readying its all-electric LEAF vehicle. Unlike the Volt, the LEAF is 100% electric and won’t include a range extending gasoline engine for when the batteries run out of juice. The zero-emissions LEAF is set to launch in late 2010 in Japan, the U.S. and Europe. It is powered solely by an electric motor, so yes, this means no exhaust pipe; there will be no rolling down your windows in a tunnel to listen to that engine roar.
The LEAF will be powered by an array of laminated lithium-ion batteries which will generate over 90kW, with the electric motor pushing out about 80kW or 280Nm (207 ft-lb). Nissan is targeting a range of over 100 miles per charge, which they state should cover more than 70% of the world’s commuters. For comparison, the upcoming Chevy Volt is targeting a range of 40 miles, but the Volt will have a gasoline engine on board to act as a generator for when the batteries are depleted. Because the LEAF cannot extend its range via a gasoline engine, it will most likely serve as a family’s second or third car, strictly for daily commuting. Charging the battery pack will be quick if using the charging station and an overnight project if not using the charging station. Thirty minutes of charging with Nissan’s quick charger will get the batteries to about 80%, while using a 200V outlet at home will charge the batteries in about 8 hours, good enough for overnight charging.
Nissan is also set to debut several new features with the release of the LEAF. A first are the LED headlights which add a unique style but also serve a practical purpose since they consume only 10% of the energy of conventional lights, and are designed to split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors to reduce drag and noise. The LEAF also has an advanced Information Technology system which connects to a global data center to provide support, information and entertainment. The system will display remaining power and range and also tell the driver where to find nearby charging stations. LEAF owners will also be able to run the proprietary software on mobile phones such as the Apple iPhone, allowing them to remotely turn on the air conditioning or set charging functions.
Pricing figures will be revealed closer to the late 2010 release, but Nissan claims the price will be competitive with well equipped C-segment vehicles. To further drop the price, consumers will be able to tap into large local, regional, and national tax break incentives for electric or low emissions vehicles.
As for the nay-sayers who claim there are no charging stations available, remember that when Henry Ford initially pumped out his Model Ts, there wasn’t a gas station on every street corner either. If Nissan and other manufacturers sell enough electric cars, charging stations are expected to follow suit to tap into this new revenue source. In the end, the consumer will decide if this technology is ready for the real-world or just a green fashion statement. Nissan realizes that this is only a piece of the future, and will continue developing other technologies such as hybrid and clean diesel for those not quite ready to give up their exhaust notes.
