We did a post about the new Nissan EV Leaf several months ago, but back then the possibility of the vehicle actually making it to the U.S. market in the very near future still seemed as dubious as all of the other carmakers claims regarding the same timeline about their particular EVs. Well, after actually seeing and sitting in one today I can say that they’re actually coming here…and sooner than I thought.
Own or Lease?
If you happen to be one of the lucky few in one of the select initial release markets for Leaf, you’ll have the opportunity to reserve one of the 5,000 said to be initially released as early as April and actually have one in your garage by late this year (just in time for the holidays). Here’s the catch though; no one knows if you’ll be owning the Leaf or leasing it seeing as many new technology vehicles usually begin their lives on the road as leased vehicles only (see EV1, Mini E, etc.) Though the rumored purchase price range of the Leaf is said to be between 25,000 and 33,000, Nissan has still not offered any confirmation of this or any other price range for the vehicle.
Also, not everyone that wants one will get one for two reasons: One, only 5,000 are going to be released between 2010 and the slated full production year of 2012. Second, not everyone will meet the necessary requirements to own a Leaf. Seeing as the Leaf is an all electric vehicle, it will need a place to charge. Its owner’s home is going to be the place where 85-95% of this charging will take place. In order for this to be possible, the owner will need to have the ability and legal authority to allow for the installation of a weatherproof charging station at his or her residence; an evaluation for which is part of the purchasing process for the Leaf. So if you live in an apartment complex, condo, or even own a home with just street parking, chances are you’re out of luck on being able to own a Leaf.
The Car Itself: First Impression
When I first walked up to the leaf, I was actually surprised at how big the vehicle was; particularly in the trunk and interior. The car looked and felt just like any other car in its class and actually had more interior space than some of its traditional counterparts. Being a 6′ 4″ guy, I can’t fit into just any vehicle. Legroom and headroom must be ample in order for me to not only be able to sit in a car, but safely see out of it in order to drive i.e. not be eye-level with the top of the windshield. The Leaf had both, and not just for the people up front, the backseat was fairly decent as well. Because the batteries are under the seats, there is actually room for a decent sized trunk as well.
The styling is subjective I suppose, but for what’s out there at the moment in the EV market, I’d say the Leaf is up there when it comes to body design. A lot of people talk about it having a “big rear end”, but in person it actually looks proportional and the real light configuration is really cool looking IMO.
Like a Prius, the Leaf as a large centralized touchscreen that monitors its performance/charge and offers control of the vehicle’s interior systems. Unlike the Prius, the touchscreen also contains an integrated advanced IT system that will not only allow drivers and passengers access to support information, weather, traffic, and even entertainment 24/7, but it will also notify drivers of the closest charging stations within the vicinity as well. Drivers will even be able to control many of the vehicles systems from a mobile phone and have the ability to schedule charging times.
The interior is what you’d expect from a vehicle in this class (plastic trim, cloth interior, etc.); only much of the interior is made from recycled material. The seat’s fabric, for example, is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and Nissan claims that the car has been designed to be almost 100% recyclable at the end of its life (though most cars now technically could be considered almost 100% recyclable now if someone were so inclined to try and do so).
The Whole Picture
Even though the Leaf was right in front of me and I was talking to a rep from Nissan, the full actual capabilities of the vehicle and basic logistics surrounding ownership of it are still vague at best. It is supposed to have a range of 100 miles on a single charge (though real world EV test trials are now showing that single-charge range is severely hampered by cold weather); top speed of 90 mph; 5 passenger; 100% torque at 0 rpm (as one would expect from an electric motor); and zero emissions (though in reality it has zero DIRECT emissions seeing as the power plants used to charge the Leaf are still emitters of GHGs). Charging times for a fully depleted battery range, depending on what voltage the charger is wired to, but can be as fast as 30 minutes on a quick charging station and as long as 18 hours on 110v charger (which probably would never be installed unless a 220v installation was impossible for some reason). Aside from that, everything else regarding the vehicle itself and its ownership is still open to speculation. Hopefully Nissan will fill in the blanks as April approaches…they’re going to have to.
The Good: A 5 passenger car that is just as roomy, if not more so, as a traditional combustion engine vehicle in its class. Body styling is unique a fairly attractive. Dashboard display is informative and ergonomic. Stated range is more than enough for most drivers. No direct emissions. One of the first available EVs hitting the U.S. market.
The Bad: Cost, exact driving specs, and ownership details are still under wraps. Real world trial runs of EVs are exposing the fact that their batteries are significantly affected by extremely cold weather; reducing their driving range on a single charge by almost half in some cases. The Leaf is initially only being released in about a dozen U.S. cities. Still contributes GHG emissions indirectly.
The Bottom-Line: The Leaf looks and feels like a functional everyday vehicle for the urban dweller, but until some of its most important details are made known, it’s difficult to make a judgement on how practical or desirable this vehicle is really going to be.
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