The 67 Nissan LEAF EVs are destined for customers in the UK and Ireland.

The City of St. Petersburg has a sleek and semi-spherical bow which reduces wind resistance by up to 50%, resulting in fuel reductions of up to 800 tonnes annually, equivalent to about 2,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The carrier will join the fleet of ships which export hundreds of thousands of vehicles from Nissan Sunderland Plant each year.

UK customers have been able to pre-order the Nissan LEAF since September 2010 ahead of deliveries starting in the coming weeks.

Pre-orders for the Nissan LEAF, which is powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery, have reached more than 27,000 units globally.

The zero-emission car is currently built in Japan, but will be manufactured in Sunderland from 2013, following the start of production of lithium-ion batteries for such cars at the plant in 2012.

Assembling the Nissan LEAF

Nissan LEAF’s lithium-ion battery modules are manufactured at the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation operation in Zama, Japan, which is a joint-venture of Nissan and NEC. The battery module, which contains 4 battery cells, are assembled at Zama and then shipped to the Nissan Oppama facility, where 48 of them are assembled into the electric car’s battery pack.

Assembling the Chevrolet Volt

The Volt’s building process itself was first developed earlier this year at GM’s Warren technical center where the 80 IV (integration vehicles) were made.

At peak production Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant is capable of building 200,000 cars per year. GM has projected a production limit of 50,000 to 60,000 cars per year initially.

[source: Nissan, Chevrolet]

After completion of five-cycle testing, the EPA has rated the Nissan LEAF with an MPG equivalent of 106 mpg in city driving and 92 mpg on the highway for a combined 99 MPGe.

This calculation is based on the EPA’s formula of 33.7kW-hrs being equivalent to one gallon gasoline energy. In addition, the label displays a charging time of seven hours on a 240V charge and a driving range of 73 miles, based on the five-cycle tests using varying driving conditions and climate controls. Driving range on the Nissan LEAF, as with all vehicles, varies with real-world driving conditions.

The MPG equivalency (MPGe) rating was developed by the EPA as a way to provide a standard so consumers can compare vehicles across the spectrum and make an educated purchase.

The 2011 Nissan LEAF, which uses no gas, was also rated best-in-class for the environment based on emitting zero greenhouse gases or other traditional tailpipe emissions. The label, which will be part of the Nissan LEAF’s Monroney label, is now ready for placement on the vehicles in anticipation of the December launch.

The Nissan LEAF has a $32,780 base price. The $7,500 federal income tax credit will lower the effective cost of a Nissan LEAF to $25,280.

Sales of the Nissan LEAF will begin in December in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Tennessee. In January 2011, sales begin in Texas and Hawaii, with additional market roll-out continuing later in 2011.

Media, Nissan shareholders, government officials, analysts and some of the first customers to place reservations for Nissan LEAF will get the chance to experience the benefits of this practical, affordable and fun to drive all-electric car when they get behind the wheel of the first production test units.

Nissan LEAF is a ‘new car’ in every sense of the word and redefines the driving experience, setting new standards in handling, acceleration and comfort in its class. Nissan LEAF officially goes on sale beginning in December.

Among the enhancements to the test units is the “Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians” system, which also will be used in the Nissan Fuga hybrid, slated for sale in fall 2010.

After exploring a hundred sounds that ranged from chimes to motorlike to futuristic, the company settled on a soft whine that fluctuates in intensity with the car’s speed. When backing up, the car makes a clanging sound.

The sound system, first of its type to be introduced by an automaker, is a combination of a high and low-pitched hum for the Leaf to make at speeds below 30 km/hour to alert pedestrians of its approach.

The system is controlled through a computer and synthesizer in the dash panel, and the sound is delivered through a speaker in the engine compartment. A switch inside the vehicle can turn off sounds temporarily. The system automatically resets to “On” at the next ignition cycle.

Nissan LEAF will be on sale in Japan, the United States, Portugal and the Netherlands starting in December and in the United Kingdom and Ireland starting February 2011. Nissan plans to begin mass marketing Nissan LEAF in 2012.

Production will start in October at the Oppama plant in Japan. The second half of 2012 will see production at the Smyrna, Tenn., plant in the U.S., followed by production in the UK at the Sunderland plant in 2013.

The battery plant is part of a $1.7 billion investment in electric car battery and LEAF assembly capacity in Smyrna, funded mainly by a $1.4 billion U.S. government loan. The $1.4 billion federal loan to Nissan is part of a $25 billion Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program authorized by Congress as part of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

By the time it opens in 2012, the factory will be able to supply lithium-ion battery packs for 200,000 electric cars annually, topping Nissan’s plan to build as many as 150,000 rechargeable LEAF electric cars a year in Smyrna.

“Nissan is committed to affordable, sustainable mobility. What we’re doing here will radically transform the automotive experience for consumers. Today is a major step in helping create a green economy in the United States,” said Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. “Production of Nissan LEAF and lithium-ion batteries in Smyrna brings the United States closer to its goal of energy independence, creates green jobs and helps sustain American manufacturing. Nissan is a leader in global manufacturing innovation, and this state-of-the-art battery plant will strengthen that leadership.”

Nissan said the LEAF will be the world’s first affordable zero emissions car. It will run completely on electricity and will fully charge in eight hours. It can reach up to 90 miles per hour and travel 100 miles on a complete charge.

The orders are piling up. Nissan has received 13,000 reservations for the $32,780 LEAF since last month, when it started to take $99 refundable deposits from customers to reserve a vehicle. With a federal tax credit, the price of the LEAF falls to about $25,000.

Designed as a four-to-five seat hatchback, Nissan says the Leaf is not just for use as a specialty urban runabout, but rather, it was designed as an everyday vehicle – a “real car” whose 160-kilometer+ (100 mile) all-electric range meets the needs of 70% of the world’s motorists.

Nissan Leaf is powered by laminated compact lithium-ion batteries, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm.

Nissan plans to lease the battery for the upcoming Leaf EV for roughly $150 U.S. per month in addition to the cost of the car which will be in the $25-30,000 range.

The car has a top speed of over 140 km/h (87 mph).

The battery can be charged with 440 volt, 220 volt and 110 volt sources. With 440 volts, it can be charged to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes with a special quick charger that sends 440/480 volt direct current to the battery. With 220 volt, it can be charged in 4 hours, and in North America and Japan using standard household 110 volt outlets it can be charged in 8 hours.

Nissan Leaf’s frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, up-slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design that announces, “This car is special.”  But the headlights do more than make a statement.  They are also designed to cleverly split and redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag.  And, the headlights provide yet one more benefit in that they consume about 50 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps, which helps Nissan Leaf to achieve its world-class range autonomy.

Through bright trim colors inside, Nissan Leaf creates a pleasing and stylish cabin environment.  An environmentally friendly “blue earth” color theme originates from the Aqua Globe body color of Nissan Leaf’s introductory model.  This theme is carried into the interior through blue dashboard highlights and instrument illumination.

While Nissan promises to deliver the Leaf to its first American customers in late 2010, it isn’t immediately clear where it will be made available, to whom, and how.

Commercial US production would begin in late 2012 at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Nissan isn’t just dumping its sleek entry into the market — it’s also building a home charger with new partner AeroVironment and partnering with local, state and federal governments — both in the U.S. and abroad — on public charging stations.

On October 22nd, 2009, Nissan announced that it would be traveling across North America to 22 cities, 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Vancouver, Canada with the Leaf as part of their Zero Emission Tour.

Zero-emission mobility programs under the banner of the Renault-Nissan Alliance include partnerships with countries such as the UK and Portugal, local governments in the Japan and the USA, and other sectors, for a total of nearly 40 partnerships worldwide.

NISSAN LEAF Specs

Dimensions
Length: 4445 mm / 175.0 in.
Width: 1770 mm / 69.7 in.
Height : 1550 mm / 61.0 in.
Wheelbase: 2700 mm / 106.3 in.

Performance
Driving range over: 160km/100miles (US LA4 mode)
Max speed (km/h): over 140km/h (over 87 mph)

Motor
Type: AC motor
Max power (kW): 80kW
Max torque (Nm): 280Nm

Battery
Type: laminated lithium-ion battery
Total capacity (kWh): 24
Power output (kW): over 90
Energy density (Wh/kg): 140
Power density (kW/kg): 2.5
Number of modules: 48
Charging times: quick charger DC 50kW (0 to 80%): less than 30 min; home-use AC200V charger: less than 8 hrs
Battery layout: Under seat & floor