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.
�The Nissan LEAF is a tremendous accomplishment � one in with all Nissan employees can take great pride,� said Nissan President Carlos Ghosn. �We have been working tirelessly to make this day a reality � the unveiling of a real-world car that has zero � not simply reduced � emissions. It�s the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey � for people all over the world, for Nissan and for the industry.�
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