Nissan Leaf: The Car of Tomorrow
Not a concept but a full production car.
Already on sale in Japan, North America and Europe.
Award winner: LEAF is the 2011 World and European Car of the Year.
Lively performance and a range of up to 175km between charges
80 per cent quick charge capability in 30 minutes
Five star safety rating.
Fully equipped with satellite navigation, parking camera and smart phone connectivity.
If
there’s one vehicle which proves, beyond doubt, that Nissan is at the
cutting edge of automotive innovation, it’s the Nissan LEAF. The world’s
first series-production family-sized pure electric vehicle, LEAF is
already on sale in North America, Japan and European countries where an
EV re-charging infrastructure has been established.
Built
on an all-new bespoke EV platform, LEAF is a purpose-designed and
engineered electric vehicle rather than an existing design that’s been
converted to battery power.
LEAF sits on a generous 2700 mm
wheelbase, is 4445 mm long, 1770 mm wide and 1550 mm tall. Because its
electric motor is physically small and the compact battery packs are
located under the floor towards the centre of the chassis, Nissan LEAF’s
design isn't compromised by the need to house a traditional engine at
the front.
The
result is a low-slung front-end which is dramatically framed by the
vertical blue LED headlights. These also direct airflow away from the
door mirrors to improve Nissan LEAF's aerodynamics.
The body was created using
Nissan's ‘smart fluidity' principle, combining flowing lines with
aerodynamic efficiency. The kicked-up roofline blends into a large
spoiler while LEAF's wind cheating shape is further helped by the flat,
smooth underfloor.
A regenerative braking system
helps to increase the vehicle's range. By applying the brake or lifting
off the accelerator, the electric motor acts as a generator, converting
energy that would otherwise be wasted into battery energy. To increase
regenerative braking capability, there's a driver-controlled Eco mode
setting, which also can be used to reduce air conditioning and thus
improve driving range by 10 per cent when driving in urban areas.
Standard equipment is
comprehensive – it includes air conditioning, satellite navigation and a
rear-view parking camera – so the only optional extra is a solar panel
integrated into the rear spoiler which can harvest energy from the sun
to power accessories.
Using a domestic electricity
supply, LEAF can be recharged to full capacity overnight, but there is
also the potential to ‘Quick Charge’ the car, using a new QC charger
developed by Nissan. This can deliver up to 50 kW of high voltage direct
current to recharge up to 80 per cent of the battery capacity in just
30 minutes.
Thanks
to the low centre of gravity, handling and ride comfort are exceptional
while the rapid progress is accompanied by an almost complete lack of
noise.
This whisper-quiet performance
could pose a problem in city traffic so to alert pedestrians to LEAF’s
presence a sine-wave sound system has been developed. This sweeps from
2.5kHz at the high end to a low of 600Hz, an easily audible range across
age groups. The system operates when Nissan LEAF is driven under 25km/h
and cuts out over 30km/h.
Other
safety systems include airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, Vehicle Dynamic
Control and pretensioner seatbelts as standard, along with a rear-view
camera for safe and easy parking. These features, plus Nissan’s efforts
to protect the batteries and isolate the electrical system in the event
of a serious accident, helped LEAF take a top five star rating in the
tough Euro NCAP safety tests
The rear view is dominated by
thin, gently curved, vertical taillights and is, of course, notable by
the total absence of an exhaust pipe. Inside there's ample space for
five adults and the airy interior houses advanced electronic devices
including a flat centre cluster for the bespoke IT system and a neat and
easy to use gearshift selector inspired by a computer mouse.
Developed by the Automotive
Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), a joint venture between Nissan and
NEC, LEAF’s advanced lithium-ion battery has the capacity to store twice
as much energy as the previous generation. Nissan LEAF has 48
lithium-ion battery modules with four battery cells inside each module
which fit snugly beneath the floor of the car, thus optimising cabin
space and providing a low centre of gravity for a smooth and stable
ride.
Responsive performance comes from
the 80kw (108 bhp) electric motor that generates its maximum 280 Nm of
torque – equivalent to the torque of a conventional 3.0-litre V6 petrol
engine from a standing start. The result is rapid acceleration
perfectly in tune with the Nissan LEAF's natural urban and suburban
habitat.
Nissan
LEAF is easy to drive. The electric powertrain does not idle and only
rotates when the vehicle is moving. To start the engine, the driver
presses the start button, and electricity is ready to flow to the motor.
Using the electric shift, the driver then selects "D", and the vehicle
starts to move. It's that simple.
A full charge delivers a
potential range of 175 km as tested over the New European Driving Cycle
(NEDC). Global research indicates that the average daily mileage for 80
per cent of the world's population is under 100 kms: the figure in Japan
and the UK is under 50 kms for 80 per cent of the population.
Driving
range depends on several factors, including external temperature,
air-conditioning usage, battery age and driving style. An onboard screen
shows key battery data, including maximum driving range, power output
and regenerated electricity. An eco-indicator on the meter displays the
status of electricity consumption, giving real-time feedback on the
driver's performance.
“Be
in no doubt that Nissan LEAF is a remarkable car, the first serious
electric vehicle the world has seen. And this is just the beginning as
this is just the first of four EVs Nissan plans to launch in the near
future. I hope we will be able to introduce the car to India sooner
rather than later,” said Gilles Normand, Nissan Corporate Vice
President, Africa, Middle East and India.
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