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Nissan LEAF Electric Car Review - All-Electric Sedan produces zero emissions
Nissan Leaf All-Electric Car Review
Posted 08.21.2009 in Reviews by Christopher
The Nissan LEAF is an all-electric medium-size hatchback that seats five adults. Designed specifically for a lithium-ion battery-powered drivetrain, Nissan projects a range of more than 160km (100 miles), which its consumer research shows will satisfy 70% of the world’s drivers.
Unlike internal-combustion engine equipped vehicles, Nissan LEAF's emits no CO2 or other greenhouse gases, and has the capability of being powered exclusively by non-polluting renewable energy such as hydro, solar, wind and geothermal.
The electric motor delivers 80kW (107bhp) and 280Nm of torque, producing a top speed of 140kmh (90mph).
The LEAF's laminated compact lithium-ion battery has a capacity of 24kWh and generates power output of over 90kW. Regenerative braking helps the car achieve its 100 mile range, which Nissan’s research indicates should meet the requirements of over 70% of drivers worldwide.
Drivers will have the option of a fast or ordinary charge, depending on the type of charging station available. Normal charging from a single-phase 100v 15A outlet takes 16 hours. A single-phase 200v 15A outlet will take eight hours to charge the vehicle. A fast charge from a three-phase 200v outlet will take 30 minutes. Sophisticated on-board charging controls including timed recharging to take advantage of lower cost off-peak metering.
Electronic controls Nissan bills as its “advanced intelligent transportation (IT) system” allow the driver to manage charging and air conditioning remotely. Onboard navigation systems help plan for range and charging when out of range of the cars usual home base.
A Nissan promotional video demonstrates the integrated cell phone communications systems providing remote updates on charging status and enabling remote control of the air conditioning system to allow the driver to pre-cool the car on a hot day. The air conditioning unit can be activated by cell phone or Internet to adjust the car’s interior to the desired temperature before entry which in addition to greatly increasing the driver’s comfort, reduces drain on the batteries during the first few miles of driving.
The video also demonstrates an advanced range-calculation system with integrated GPS map technology capable of determining the expected state of charge required to reach a destination, the remaining charge for further travel, and illustrated recharging stations in the vicinity of the route and destination.
Other power-saving features include LED headlights which consume about 50 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps.
Nissan and NEC joined forces to create their own lithium ion battery for use by Nissan, Renault and for sale to other manufacturers.
The Nissan LEAF is slated for launch in late 2010 in Japan, the United States, and Europe.
Pricing details will be announced closer to start of sales in late 2010; however, the company expects the car to be competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle. The Nissan LEAF is expected to qualify for an array of significant local, regional and national tax breaks and incentives.
The first of Nissan's EV's will be manufactured at Oppama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for Smyrna, Tennessee, USA. Lithium-ion batteries are being produced in Zama, Japan, with additional capacity planned for the USA, the UK and Portugal.
In a study of households with at least one vehicle, Experian Automotive found that 34 percent of households have a single-vehicle, with 32% having two cars and 34% having three or more.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance is engaged in partnerships with 30 countries worldwide to develop a comprehensive charging infrastructure through public and private investment