by Pauline Abreu

Created on: March 19, 2010

Nissan are proposing to release this zero-emissions electric car by late 2010.  The car will be on the market in the US, Japan, and Europe, and the Japanese car company are hoping to achieve great sales with this environmentally friendly addition to their auto line up.  This medium sized hatchback can transport up to five people, which is an accomplishment for the electric car industry.  Gone are the days of unstylish, small electric cars that could barely hold two passengers.  Nissan have brought a whole new look in the form of the LEAF, and now there's no looking back.

The Nissan LEAF uses lithium ion cells to power the 80 kW (107-hp) electric motor with a peak torque of 208 lb-ft.  A top speed of 87 mph is a huge improvement for a vehicle of this type, and the car can also travel 100 miles when fully charged.  On a standard 200 V outlet the battery takes 8 hours to charge, which is ideal for overnight charging before work in the morning.  However, there is another bonus with the option of the DC 50kW quick-charger that will charge the battery up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes.  A price for the Nissan LEAF has not been officially set, but it is estimated the car will sell for $30, 000 in the US market.

The headlights are of a distinctive blue internal reflective design, which not only look good, but also serve an additional purpose too.  The way they are designed allows air to be re-directed from the door mirrors, which reduces drag and wind noise.  Also, keeping in tune with the environmental issues the headlights use just 10 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps.   The aqua blue of the exterior is mirrored on the interior of the Nissan Leaf, with the dashboard and instrument panels also emulating the modern blue color.  One other impression feature is the on-board remote-controlled timer that can be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.  Nissan have made the charging function even easier by allowing drivers to use their cell phones to switch on air conditioning and charging facilities. 

Nissan have certainly made the statement they were looking for with the LEAF.  It has all the modern features of a standard vehicle, but has the added environmentally friendly statistics of an electric car.  If you're looking to become an owner of an electric vehicle, you can't go wrong with this latest model from Nissan.  It is one of the most modern, sophisticated, and greenest cars you will find when it comes onto the market towards the end of 2010. 

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