Nissan is reducing the price of its all-electric Nissan LEAF hatchback by 3,000 euros in European markets.
The change comes as part of a global effort to make the Nissan LEAF more affordable in the pioneering electric vehicle’s three main markets of Japan, Europe and the United States.
The new price is effective immediately, ahead of the mid-year arrival of an updated version of the Nissan LEAF, the world’s best-selling electric car.
This is on top of incentives offered by governments and regional authorities and means a customer could pay as little as €25,990 in France or £23,490 in the U.K. for a brand new example.
Winner of the World, Europe and Japan Car of the Year Awards when it was launched in 2011, about 50,000 Nissan LEAF electric vehicles have been sold world-wide. With more than a cumulative 238 million km driven, the LEAF demonstrates that battery-powered cars are ready to make a significant contribution to a world-wide reduction in vehicle emissions.
A four-door, five-seat hatchback, Nissan LEAF has been lauded for its high levels of quality and exceptional reliability. It offers all the space, practicality and performance of any of its conventional rivals… but with one notable difference. It is a pure EV, promising no tailpipe emissions and low running costs.
It is powered by an in-house developed compact electric motor in the front of the car driving the front wheels. The AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of more than 145 km/h (90 mph) and has a range of 175kms (108 miles) as tested over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC).
Recharging its compact lithium-ion batteries takes up to eight hours when plugged into a conventional domestic socket, but a rapidly expanding network of quick chargers mean a battery with 30 per cent charge left can be boosted to 80 per cent capacity in around 15 minutes… or just 30 minutes if it is completely depleted.
Strategically installed quick-chargers have started to create a series of ‘electric highways’ across Europe, greatly reducing concerns over an EV’s potential range and increasing its day-to-day practicality. About 600 LEAF-compatible CHAdeMO quick chargers have been installed in Europe to date.
Nissan LEAF comes with very high levels of standard equipment. Its standard satellite navigation system incorporates Carwings, Nissan’s unique telematics system which allows an owner to control the heating and air conditioning settings and to monitor the charging process remotely via a smart phone,
Other standard equipment includes a rear-view parking camera, quick charge capability, Intelligent Key, LED headlamps and Bluetooth connectivity. Nissan LEAF has been granted a top 5 Star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests.
Production of the updated model is due to start at Nissan European plant in Sunderland, UK, in Spring 2013.
