Nissan Leaf (electric car) available next year.

[godai]

Nissan has just unveiled a new zero emissions vehicle that is slated to go on sale in Japan, Europe and the United States next year. Called the LEAF, this C-segment (sub-compact) car is powered by an electric motor and lithium-ion battery packs. Nissan says it will be able to drive 100 miles on a single charge. The batteries will be able to be charged up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes with a special quick charger, or in roughly eight hours through a standard 200V outlet. Nissan says that through extensive research the 100 mile range will be suitable for 70 percent of car buyers.

Output from the lithium-ion battery packs is rated at 80kW/280Nm, (107-hp and 207 ft-lbs of torque), which should make this sub-compact a sporty little car.

Pricing has yet to be released but Nissan aims to give the LEAF an MSRP competitive with well-equipped C-segment cars. That should put it near the $20,000 mark. The car will also qualify for government rebates and tax incentives desigend to help promote the sale of fuel-efficient cars.

“Our car had to be the world’s first, medium-sized, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that’s what we’ve created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility,” said the LEAF product boss Masato Inoue.

The first LEAFs will be built at Nissan’s plant in Oppama, Japan with plans to also start production soon at the company’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant. The LEAF is the first of three electric vehicles that Nissan plans to launch in the next few years.


http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2009/08/breaking-nissan-launches-leaf-electric-car.html





http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/

[redqueen]

1. I want one!

:bounce:

[fascisthunter]

2. damn... wish I could get one

one in either silver or dark grey

[Robb]

3. Not too bad

...Although someone tell me what the HELL is going on with the rear end of that car. :D

100 miles = good commuter. Hopefully that's in real miles, not industry miles.

[tridim]

6. Honda should re-release the 89-91 CRX body style with a hybrid engine

IMO that generation of CRX has the best looking body style (and rear-end) ever made. It was pure example of the beauty of form following function. Best hatchback ever.

Yea, I know the original Insight was based on the CRX, but they screwed it up enough that it ended up looking ugly IMO.

[TroubleMan]

9. Unless you sat in the back seat.

Sitting in the back of a CRX is like being stuffed in a suitcase.

[redqueen]

7. It's futurlistic.

:P

[RockaFowler]

4. Wow!! I want one

I could deal with 100 miles. It's 50 miles one way to work for me. This would fit in perfectly for me.

[godai]

5. And, they're setting up 30 min quick charge stations.

Each car has GPS indicating a nearby quick charge station, if you're getting low on charge. I've read where Nissan is working with states to setup quick charge networks.

[NecklyTyler]

8. K&R