Nissan Leaf

In August 2009, Nissan unveiled the all-electric Nissan Leaf—promising "the world's first affordable, zero-emission car." The big hope for a practical and affordable all-electric car grew in late 2009, when Nissan took the Leaf on a look-but-don't-touch tour. Some details about the vehicle emerged, but the big question was price. Nissan put that question to rest on March 31, 2010, when it announced a purchase price of $32,780, or a monthly lease of $349 per month. A vast array of federal and state consumer incentives, including a $7,500 tax credit, will reduce the total purchase price.

Local incentives include a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.

In California, which is expected to be the biggest market for the Leaf, the combined federal and state tax credits would effectively reduce the total purchase price to the low-$20,000s. Of course, consumers will not receive the benefit until tax time—and will still need to pay for or finance the entire cost.

Nissan begins accepting reservations on April 20 first from people who have signed up on NissanUSA.com, and, after a brief introductory period, to all interested consumers. Consumers will be required to pay a $99 reservation fee, which is fully refundable. Reserving a Nissan LEAF ensures consumers a place in line when Nissan begins taking firm orders in August, as well as access to special, upcoming Nissan LEAF events.

The Basics

Nissan Leaf is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm.
Driving range is expected to be 100 miles between full charges. Nissan Leaf can be charged up to 80 percent of its full capacity in just under 30 minutes with a quick charger. Charging at home through a 200V outlet is estimated to take approximately eight hours.
Nissan Leaf's frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design. The headlights are designed to cleverly split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag. And, the headlights consume just 10 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps.
Nissan Leaf employs an exclusive advanced IT system. Connected to a global data center, the system can provide support, information, and entertainment for drivers 24 hours a day. The dash-mounted monitor displays Nissan Leaf's remaining power—or "reachable area"—in addition to showing a selection of nearby charging stations. Another state-of-the-art feature is the ability to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions - even when Nissan LEAF is powered down. An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.
The vehicle at the SV trim level is well-equipped with a variety of standard features, including an advanced navigation system and Internet/smart phone connectivity to the vehicle, enabling pre-heat/pre-cool and charging control. Other standard amenities include Bluetooth connectivity; Intelligent-key with push button start; Sirius/XM satellite radio capabilities and roadside assistance. Safety features include vehicle dynamic control (stability control), traction control and six airbags. The SL trim level, available for an additional $940, adds features including rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights.

Charging Equipment

In tandem with the purchase process, Nissan will offer personal charging docks, which operate on a 220-volt supply, as well as their installation. Nissan is providing these home-charging stations, which will be built and installed by AeroVironment, as part of a one-stop-shop process that includes a home assessment.

The average cost for the charging dock plus installation will be $2,200.
Charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50 percent federal tax credit up to $2,000.
Using current national electricity averages, Nissan LEAF will cost less than $3 to “fill up.”
Nissan LEAF also will be the sole vehicle available as part of The EV Project, which is led by EV infrastructure provider eTec, a division of ECOtality, and will provide free home-charging stations and installation for up to 4,700 Nissan LEAF owners in those markets:Phoenix/Tucson, San Diego, Portland/Salem/Eugene (OR), Seattle, Nashville/Knoxville.

Initial Reaction

Nissan's unveiling of the Leaf gave a jolt to green car fans on the web. No longer an amorphous concept, Nissan’s electric car can now be stacked up against other plug-in cars and hybrids for its look and feel, features, and cost.

By and large, folks in the blogosphere were blown away by the affordable purchase price. The common reaction was "hallelujah" and "the future is finally here."

The Nissan Leaf’s closest comparable future all-electric car is the Ford Focus Electric, which is likely to be a full year behind the Leaf. The two vehicles are remarkably similar in size and capabilities. Both vehicles are expected to offer 100 miles in driving range. The Nissan Leaf’s lithium ion battery pack has a capacity of 24 kilowatt hours, while the Focus EV holds 23 kilowatt hours of energy. Both vehicles will carry five passengers and measure 175 inches in length, while the Nissan Leaf has a longer wheelbase by about three inches.

Nissan corporate video shot in Japan shows the first moving images of the Nissan Leaf. The car is shown on the road, getting plugged in for normal and "quick charging," and running through features. (Note: It's raw "b-roll" footage with no sound.)

The distinguishing characteristic could be design—pitting the established look of the Ford Focus against the purpose-built Nissan Leaf. (Ford has not confirmed if the Focus EV will differ from the conventional Focus.) When we spoke last November with Mark Perry, Nissan’s director of product planning, he said, “We want to make sure [the design] is iconic, as something different, unique and futuristic. But not in a Blade Runner, George Jetson kind of way." That was not the impression many blog commenters had.

Richard S posted this comment on HybridCars.com: “Pretty ugly. If the Focus EV looks anything close to the current Focus, then Nissan's gonna have a rough time.” An anonymous visitor wrote: “This thing looks like something that came out of a cleaning lab. Kind of makes me think this thing is going to start selling me cleaning products.”

Comments from other sites offered a number of colorful descriptions, including “the offspring of a Smurf and a the Pillsbury Dough Boy,” and “a Nissan Murano meets a catfish,” and “what would happen if a Mazda3 and a Toyota Matrix had a baby.”

Sean, posting on AutoBlog.com, explained the Prius-like front slope by writing, “I personally like the design, the front is the aerodynamic shape but the back end is more unique, not the typical teardrop.” Writing on GM-Volt.com, a fan site dedicated to the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, Don C wrote: “The design seems pleasant enough. I like it subjectively. Plus the design more or less tells you what the car is. It says ‘I’m a little guy with cool tech suitable for driving locally’.” Don C believes would be a mistake to make the car look “like a super car.”

Competition

The Nissan Leaf will be arriving almost exactly when the Chevy Volt is introduced in late 2010—although it appears that the Volt will be priced $10,000 or more above the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus EV. Although more expensive, the Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid offering a driving range equal of beyond most gas-powered cars, while the Nissan Leaf, Ford Focus EV, and other electric cars will be limited to approximately 100 miles in range.

When these choices, plus a growing number of conventional hybrids, become available, consumers interested in cutting-edge fuel-efficient technologies will have to make sense of the new automotive landscape—balancing considerations for driving range, price, fuel efficiency, drivetrain technologies, and design. Exciting times.