A MERE two years after its introduction, the Nissan Leaf— the world’s first mass-marketed, affordable, 100-percent pure electric car—is already gaining headway into the global automotive market and is serving notice that zero-emission mobility is truly viable.
It will be recalled that the Leaf, which stands for Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car, was announced during the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show along with a commitment from no less than Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn that the vehicle would be delivered the following year.
True to his promise, the Leaf was introduced in Japan and the US in December 2010. To date, deliveries have also been made to customers in Ireland, the UK, Canada, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Switzerland, with orders soon to be filled in Belgium and Denmark.
At this year’s Tokyo Motor Show at the Tokyo Big Sight, Ghosn reported that 20,000 units of the Leaf have been sold, making it the best-selling electric car in history.
“Nissan Leaf owners have driven nearly 57 million kilometers, saved three million liters of fuel, which translates into 7,300 tons of CO2 that have not been emitted. In 2012 we will begin production of Nissan Leaf in the United States. By fiscal year 2016, the Renault-Nissan Alliance will have sold a cumulative 1.5 million electric vehicles,” Ghosn shared during the opening of the Nissan booth last week.
The Leaf is a five-door hatchback powered exclusively by a battery, which means that it does not require fossil fuels to run and, more important, does not produce tailpipe emissions.
According to Nissan, the Leaf is capable of a top speed of around 150 kph, thanks to an 80-kw, front-mounted electric motor, which delivers an equivalent of 110 hp power and 280 Nm of torque through the front wheels. Power is drawn from an 86-megajoule laminated lithium-ion battery that weighs 300 kg. The battery is always the heaviest part of any EV, but the Leaf is able to keep a low center of gravity and high structural rigidity compared to other hatchbacks by locating it below the seats and rear foot space.
Recharging the battery is accomplished through either of the two charging receptacles on the front of the hood. From empty, the battery can be fully charged in eight hours by plugging a cable into a 220- to 240-volt outlet. Charging can also be done through any standard household, 120-volt outlet; however, Nissan says this type of charging is only intended for emergency charging. Fast DC charging is also an option and the battery can be charged up to 80 percent of its capacity in 30 minutes. One full charge is said to provide the Leaf with a range of 160 km but reports say that most owners rarely travel beyond 100 km in their daily commutes. The cost to run the Leaf is said to be 70-percent lower than a comparable gasoline-powered car. A separate 12-volt lead-acid battery is used to power up the computer systems and accessories such as the audio system, supplemental restraint systems, headlights and windshield wipers. Nissan expects the Leaf’s battery to last between five and 10 years of “normal use.”
Aside from its powertrain, the Leaf’s other centerpiece technology is “Carwings,” which allows the vehicle to send and receive data via a built-in GPRS radio. Carwings automatically connects to the nearest cell site, allowing it to determine the vehicle’s position and possible range on a map and which charging stations are available within range. The system also tracks and compiles statistics about distance traveled and energy consumption and produces daily, monthly and annual reports of these and several other operational parameters, which are displayed on digital screens. With the system, the Leaf owner can use a mobile phone to remotely switch on the air-conditioner and heater, and reset charging functions even when the vehicle is powered down. An onboard remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries at a set time such as during off-peak hours.
Safety wise, the Leaf received a five-star rating (the highest) from Euro NCAP, which makes it a “real” car in the truest sense, which is probably why, since its launch, the Leaf has received various awards such as the 2010 Green Car Vision award, the 2011 European Car of the Year award, and has been named the 2011 World Car of the Year and the 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan.
Apparently, the Leaf is just the start of something big from Nissan.
According to Ghosn, the carmaker is aiming its sights on a clean, connected, mobile society that demands the development of both vehicles and infrastructure. The time when an automaker could focus only on the vehicle is over.
“Look at the concept cars here today. These are not exercises in design fantasy, but viable transport solutions for tomorrow’s digitally connected, urban societies, where “smart houses” and “smart communities” support zero-emission mobility,” he said.
Part of the company’s exhibit is the Nissan Smart House, which Ghosn claims is able to harness the energy of solar panels and combine that with the power from batteries and fuel cells in a unique Leaf-to-Home charging system. The Nissan Smart House can connect and manage energy more efficiently and in better harmony with the wider community.
In what is perceived as a move to enlarge its following in the global market, Nissan unveiled two new versions of the Leaf, namely, the Leaf Nismo Concept and the Leaf Nismo RC at the current Tokyo Motor Show.
“Nissan is the first manufacturer to have a purpose-built electric race car ready for eco-friendly motorsport. And the Nissan Leaf Nismo Concept takes inspiration from the aerodynamics of the race car to transform the Nissan Leaf into a road car—one without a trace of exhaust. We have delivered on our promise of mass-marketed electric vehicles and are now working on the next generation of connected mobility solutions,” Ghosn added.
The retail price of the 2011 Leaf in Japan starts at ¥3.76 million and $32,780 in the US. Most countries where the Leaf is sold have governments that provide tax incentives or subsidies for eligible buyers that reduce the effective cost of purchase below the retail prices listed by Nissan, which is why the vehicle won’t be available anytime soon in emerging markets such as the Philippines, where the incentives and infrastructure are not in place as of yet.
Don’t lose hope, though, as Nissan is committed to making it happen eventually.
Ghosn said, “Three years ago, we promised to take the lead in EV production and now we have the Leaf. Our next step is to make the EV a feasible consumer alternative, not a niche. We are undertaking a lot of initiatives in emerging markets to make cars affordable to people who can’t buy them.”
