Introduction: Back last week, Nissan showed-off their future electric-vehicle platform. Well with the surprise of this week, Nissan have already unveiled the new model, that will be applying the new platform, and will be on sale in Japan, U.S., and Europe in late 2010. At a global reveal, Nissan CEO, Carlos Ghosn got to show the Japanese automaker’s new zero-emission electric-car - the Nissan LEAF.
Design:
Design:The Nissan LEAF tries to be as aero-efficient as possible, while still be acceptable. Like all "green-cars", Nissan got the LEAF to be a 5-door family hatchback, that actually looks quite fancy for the average family car, with tinted headlights, and the C-pillar which echoes the Murano. Nevertheless, with its curved flare-fenders, and rear-diffuser, aero-dynamics have been studied well, and the air-flow is very clean. Inside, the LEAF is based on a Versa hatchback, so it's very spacious. However, unlike any Nissan, the interior on the LEAF looks somewhat like a concept. It looks the part, but mainly, the LEAF uses the same split-gauges like in the Honda Civic.
Powertrain & Technology:
Although there isn't much only-electric vehicles out there, Nissan reckon that this technology works. The LEAF is powered by a battery-powered electric-motor, that packs 107 hp and 208 lb-ft, coming from 0 rpm. On a full-charge, the Nissan LEAF allows for a driving range of 100 miles with a top speed of 87 mph. That 100 miles though, will be all electric, and "zero-emissions", as Nissan say. On the other side though, charging time takes approximately 8 hours on a standard 200V outlet. However, buyers can go for the DC 50kW quick-charger, which recharges the battery up to 80% in under 30 minutes.
Production & Pricing:
Nissan expects production capacity to reach 200,000 units a year by 2012. The first couple of units will be produced at the company’s Oppama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for Tennessee, U.S. The lithium-ion batteries, which cost around $10,000 per vehicle, will be produced in Zama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for the U.S., UK and rest of Europe. Pricing for the vehicle is expected to come in around $30,000 for the U.S. market. So where does this put the LEAF against? Well surely, it's up against the ultra-hybrids from Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. Nissan also got to get in the ways of the 40-mile electric Chevrolet Volt. More importantly though, we like to think that this is a head-up rival to the also all-electric Tesla Model S. So the electric-vehicle market is coming-up fast. That why Nissan said that it wants to mass market its electric vehicles globally by 2012.
Powertrain & Technology:Although there isn't much only-electric vehicles out there, Nissan reckon that this technology works. The LEAF is powered by a battery-powered electric-motor, that packs 107 hp and 208 lb-ft, coming from 0 rpm. On a full-charge, the Nissan LEAF allows for a driving range of 100 miles with a top speed of 87 mph. That 100 miles though, will be all electric, and "zero-emissions", as Nissan say. On the other side though, charging time takes approximately 8 hours on a standard 200V outlet. However, buyers can go for the DC 50kW quick-charger, which recharges the battery up to 80% in under 30 minutes.
Production & Pricing:Nissan expects production capacity to reach 200,000 units a year by 2012. The first couple of units will be produced at the company’s Oppama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for Tennessee, U.S. The lithium-ion batteries, which cost around $10,000 per vehicle, will be produced in Zama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for the U.S., UK and rest of Europe. Pricing for the vehicle is expected to come in around $30,000 for the U.S. market. So where does this put the LEAF against? Well surely, it's up against the ultra-hybrids from Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. Nissan also got to get in the ways of the 40-mile electric Chevrolet Volt. More importantly though, we like to think that this is a head-up rival to the also all-electric Tesla Model S. So the electric-vehicle market is coming-up fast. That why Nissan said that it wants to mass market its electric vehicles globally by 2012.
Source: [Nissan]
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