Nissan Leaf all-electric car set for a string of global rollouts
Nissan leaf is an all electric environment friendly car which according to experts could become the next ‘Prius’ of the American sub continent. Nissan Leaf is quite pleasing to look at; its design remotely resembling the Prius and claims to deliver 100 mile coverage in a single charging session. The car is priced in the economy segment at the equivalent of around USD 45,000 and has been launched in Japan so far. Nissan Leaf will hit the markets of Korea, US, UK, Europe and Canada early next year.
Since the car uses no gas at all, charging becomes the main point of concern. Fortunately, Nissan Leaf has all its answers in place. Nissan Leaf provides two charging points, one port of which can use 120/220v AC and get Nissan Leaf powered in 14/8 hours. The second port is for corporate users who can avail a commercial charging point with a high voltage outlet (around 550v) which can get Nissan Leaf charged more than 75% in less than half-hour!
The interior of Nissan Leaf is quite spacious, even at the trunk. The temperature inside the Nissan Leaf is also cooler than most gas cars. Being an electronic car, Nissan Leaf has absolutely no analog controls, a sharp contrast from the Toyota Etios. Everything is digital and there are displays to indicate the temperature of the battery and the fuel regeneration status. The fuel status is displayed with even a prediction provided on the remaining miles in your Nissan Leaf, derived based on the driving history of the owner (you!). And if that doesn’t get your attention, then Nissan Leaf even has a digital indicator showing how ‘green’ you are driving on a particular day!
Quite understandably, Nissan Leaf has a display which shows a network of charging points in the owner’s area. Nissan Leaf is also programmed to predict the nearest charging location when the car requires urgent refilling.
Nissan Leaf has an all-electronic ‘gearbox’ or the drive mode controller which comes complete with an electronic hand brake. A smart phone remote controller is provided to control Nissan Leaf’s charging and cooling patterns. Nissan Leaf also has an LED headlight design to save power and is provided a solar panel on the roof of the car to help a bit with the charging process as the car traverses sunny areas.
The hatchback car, Nissan Leaf can hit a high speed of 150 kmph. Nissan Leaf is engineered to live up to the acronym in its name: Leading-Environment friendly-Affordable-Family car.
Exclusives
Toyota Etios enters India: Review of Toyota Etios sedan
Toyota Prius XW30: Unique in all ways
TATA Aria: The first Indian cross over car
Mercedez Benz M class Grand launched in India
A small car wonder, the Japanese Nissan Micra
A powerful new car from Mitsubishi: the Outlander
Jaguar Porsche Car
Safety hazard: TATA calls back it’s Nano cars
Skoda brings to India its award winning crossover car, Yeti
World’s costliest car Bugatti Veyron to ride the roads of India