Nissan’s unveiling of the LEAF jolted green car fans on the web. No longer an amorphous concept, Nissan’s electric car is stacked up against other plug-in cars and hybrids for its look and feel and features. The reviews from the blogosphere—usually an irreverent crowd—have been mixed.
The Nissan LEAF’s closest comparable future all-electric car is the Ford Focus EV. 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.
Although the Nissan LEAF is expected to beat the Ford Focus EV to the market by about one year, LEAF’s first customers will be fleets and consumers participating in Department of Energy evaluations. The LEAF’s distinguishing characteristic could be design. 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.”
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 several thousand dollars higher than the Nissan LEAF. While more expensive, the Chevy Volt is a plug-in hybrid offering a driving range equal to or 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. The new plug-in cars will also be competing against conventional hybrids, like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, which are priced in the low- to mid-$20,000s.
When all these choices 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.
It’s hard for me to deny that I wish this automotive future could kick in sooner than later. I’m growing disgusted of the amount of pollution that’s literally changing the looks and feel of every town/city. I still remember when 10/15 years ago traffic was non existent in the country side, and I have a pretty clear picture of the difference from then and today. Driving up-hill is a revolting experience nowadays, shall I find a gasoline fueled vehicle pumping its nauseating gases in front of me. One day, soon I hope, this MUST be the future of city cars. I am pretty sure my next car (whenever I’ll happen to be buying a new one) will be electric.
Review from Plugincars.com
Video from CNET