The Leaf: Nissan Unveils New Electric Car

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn drove quietly out of the Japanese automaker's soon-to-open headquarters Sunday in the first public viewing of its new zero-emission vehicle.

It was the first time the external design was shown of Nissan Motor Co.'s environmentally friendly electric automobile, set to go on sale in Japan, the U.S. and Europe next year. The blue hatchback had a sporty design and a recharging opening in the front.

Designer Shiro Nakamura said the vehicle was designed to avoid a stereotypical futuristic design.

"This is not a niche car," he said. "We didn't make it unusual looking. It had to be a real car."

Nissan has promised that the Leaf, which goes into mass-production as a global model in 2012, will be about the same price as a gas-engine car such as the 1.5 million yen ($15,000) Tiida, which sells abroad as the Versa, starting at about $10,000.

Ghosn drove out on stage with former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sitting next to him, and with a Yokohama governor and mayor in the rear seats.

"This car represents a real breakthrough," Ghosn told reporters and guests at a showroom in the new headquarters.

He said the new car and new office building in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo, marked two fresh starts for Nissan, which hopes to take the lead in zero-emission vehicles.

Nissan, which has an alliance with Renault SA of France, has fallen behind Japanese rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. in gas-electric hybrids that have become increasingly popular recently.

Nissan said the new 22-story headquarters was designed to be sufficiantly energy efficient to qualify as one of the most ecological buildings in Japan. The company, which is losing money amid the global downturn, is selling its old Tokyo headquarters as part of efforts to cut costs.

Koizumi said environmentally friendly auto technology is key to Japan's economic growth.

"It was so unexpectedly smooth and quiet," he said after getting out of the car. "I am sure this car is going to be popular."

Comments

[go2it]

Wow - whatever happened to comparison & contrast to drive it home -- Tesla Motors USA Rocks!

[mbsq]

100 mile range, 8 hours to recharge from a 220 volt outlet. Fine for around town and short trips, but this is not as useful and reliable as a gas car. I'll wait to see if EEStor pulls through on their breakthrough capacitor before considering pure electric. Until then, I'll keep my eye on hybrids, biodiesel, and higher efficiency internal combustion engines.

[BobBlack]

One of few electric cars that actually looks like a usable car. You know, looks like a real one!
Yet... 8 hours for re-charge? Any chance of buying a second battery and always keeping that on the charger? Okay, I'm betting on biofuel.

Bob Black,
dubai car hire

[everonward]

Looks promising, I would need more than 100 mile range, but I'm sure there are alot of applications this car could do well in. I don't there's any question at this point that the less oil the US uses, the better for the country, both strategically and economically, not to mention environmental benifits, but it will take time.
A company called "Better Place" is already setting up infrastructure for EV in certain areas- Hawaii, Isreal, Denmark, and part of California.

http://www.betterplace.com/

[Lobbyist790]

People go out and rent " Who Killed the electric car” Then come back , this is a huge step in the right direction.

[ferrarimanf355]

Christ almighty, can we ever get through a discussion about this topic without someone bringing up that crockumentary?

[iamfinch]

i prefer this http://jalopnik.com/393311/100-mpg-axon-city-car-in-realistic+thinking-shocker

Gas consumption is not bad..... too much is. Lets work on improving our efficiency while developing our alternative energy.

[berrycooda]

How cute...

Wonder if there will be batteries put on trees every 75 miles or so.
Then this little leaf can hook up to a tree for a (quick charge)

[Sr Newk]

First thing I want to tell all of the tree hungers out in land of the forest, this and all electric vehicles should not be considered as "Zero Emission" vehicles. It is correct the vehicle itself does not release emissions like a internal combustion engine, however it still requires energy to operate and that energy comes from power plants. Now one could argue that well I only purchase wind energy so my car is really emission free, but most people would have their electrics plugged in the garage while they are sleeping at night. Wind power turbines don't generate much electricity at night so a good portion of the power is generated by natural gas, coal or nuclear powered reactor. So the verbiage that electric cars are zero emission is just a phrase that make us feel good, like we are doing the right thing to prevent Global Warming. Oh excuse, I believe Al Gore has redefined it as Climate Change yes that is achievable because the earth has had climate change ever since it was created.

Nissan I do want to commend you for doing a good job, but the looks of the body not so nice, I think you should have worked a little more on that part of the car.

I believe you will have produced a fully functional electric car in less time then Government Motors. You see it has been well over two years and the Volt is still being tested and fixed.

[audeo03]

THE ISSUE IS EFFICIENCY. An internal combustion engine is ~40% efficient, where a DC electric motor is ~95% efficient. On top of that, having a centralized power-plant reduces the need for the fuel to be transported to lots of individual storage facilities (gas stations). Trains deliver coal and are VERY efficient. On top of that, coal is domestic and doesn't fund terrorism or have to cross an ocean.

On the flip side: Coal is a dirty source of fuel as it must go through 2 phase changes before releasing it's energy. Even so, an electric car powered from a coal based grid is not ideal, but better that having every car have it's own in-efficient power-plant.

We need electric cars, that are eventually, to be powered by renewable, zero/low-emission sources...

[iamfinch]

I don't know how much it costs to charge this car for its 100 mile range but I do know that for 1 gallon of gas (roughly $2.75 average) you can get a 100 miles in this http://jalopnik.com/393311/100-mpg-axon-city-car-in-realistic+thinking-shocker. We should really be trying to merge the best of both worlds with our technology. Combine some of the hybrid technology with the light weight technology and the results only go up.

Gas consumption is not a bad thing..... too much is.

[Chip W]

I followed some of the links. Here are some numbers:
Range = 100 miles.
Battery charge to 80% capacity = 20 minutes
Top speed = 90 mph

[jaundicedview]

More than twice the range of the Chevy Volt at less than half the price.

[FreddieVee]

And I just bought a Prius in May.

FreddieVee

[leevntheus]

Peak load charging is a myth generated by fat cats invested in GridPoint Utility Monopoly strategies already run through the lobbyist halls of congress people!! They've got this ginned up way in advance.

No more choice in energy pricing for your vehicle. Just one big energy monopoly telling you how much and WHEN and HOW you can charge.

Think not? Wait until you see what this cap and trade scam brings you in terms of electricity pricing. Remember California's ENRON fiasco? Imagine that WORLDWIDE.

People will slow trickle at home and at work and occasionally need one to four hour layovers at good strategic stops to get along. Like parking garages, movie theatres, shopping malls, highway rest stops etc. Most don't drive more than 20 miles on any given trip for chrissakes. I could drive to all my daily errands and not put on more than 40 miles. Then I go back home and plug in. No big deal.

And, going to work, I plug in at work; so when I get home, no big need for"peak hour" charging.

Check out what's coming big time by 2012: http://www.pevnet.com

[tabatha]

Nice looking car! Cute name, too!

One problem I have with EVs: most of the battery production occurs in China.

China brings more and more cheap, filthy coal powered plants on line weekly, greatly contributing to global climate change.

We're trying to pressure China and India into climate agreements, but admittedly, as the biggest resource consumers and polluters on the planet, we don't have that much bargaining influence.

Additionally, there's not an abundance of lithium, if that's the route battery production takes. So, where does that lead?

Ultimately, I think natural gas and solar powered vehicles are the way to go.

[RubberPimple]

A solar-powered car will forever be the province of engineering colleges and desert hermits. They are a fantasy. Don't get me wrong, i'd love to have one that works, but it will never be the primary power source for a personal vehicle. At best, it can provide some supplemental charging.

[audeo03]

That's like saying a hundred years ago that flying by air-plane across an ocean will never happen or be affordable. It will happen sooner than you think. It just won't be an SUV. Sorry.

[undrgrndgirl]

really?

here's a solar plug in station in CHICAGO...http://gas2.org/2009/04/09/chicago-gets-first-solar-powered-ev-charging-station/

the chevy volt and priuses (prii? prium??) that have been converted to plug-in can be powered/recharged at solar collecting stations - which can easily and cheaply be installed on homes (i know i saw something on one of those save the planet shows on the discovery channel, i just can find it now)...

there is one problem: the batteries; last i heard they have about a 3 year life cycle and cost $10,000 - $30,000 to replace. then there's the disposal issue.

[Drew2821]

This car is a perfect example of why I will keep my 3/4 ton Chevy Avalanche. Some of us need a vehicle that can actually do some work. Not to mention the glorious sound of a big V8 and 33" tires rolling down the road. Yes I admit I have no use for cars like these and laugh when I pass a Prius and what they must think of me getting 13mpg as I go down the highway.

[seattle music]

When you see a Prius and you laugh, I'll bet you get an itsy bitsy woody, too.

C'mon, fess up.

Just a wee one?

[Kiri sute gomen]

Great, I had to change out my keyboard because of your comment. The silly thing didn't work after I spit my coffee all over it.

[SolarPowerGuy]

Seattle Music shoots! And he scores!

[mikevail]

Darwin was right , and hopefully you will not reproduce.

[SarahZim]

Don't worry they are laughing at you too.

[RubberPimple]

I completely agree that this car is not meant for work. Some people really do need large, powerful trucks to accomplish the hard and dirty work that often makes an economy and a society function.

That being said, to project one's ego and identity so completely into a massive metal contraption propelled by a box of controlled explosions is profoundly pathetic.

Please evolve. Quickly.

[furpants]

Good one Corg. I bet you clubbed your wife and drug her to your cave as well.

[bluecollarblogger]

I love the car and i do believe that it is the only way by which we are going to turn this countrys dependence on oil. Having said all that lets get to the facts.......who owns our butts........who owns companys in our country, owns property by the millions of acres......who has more influence on goverment than the Chineese..­.........S­audia Arabia!...­......ther­e is no way........they are letting us get off this train......we are addicted to oil........its to cheap......its to easy........its to gratifying to set in your car......listen to your music.......and burn down the highway doing 90 miles an hour......its the rush........so i'm sure the oil companies and opec are just setting around .....coming up with a type of cheaper form of oil.....we can burn..........which is cheaper...­......whic­h will keep us ..............on our high......

[Tom Joad]

How long before we can expect to see these sold in the U.S.? Next year? Really?