Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf (sometimes formatted as “LEAF”) is an electric car announced by Nissan in 2009.

It is expected to be marketed in North America, Europe, and Japan, beginning in late 2010. Time magazine called it one of the 50 best inventions of 2009.

Specifications

The Leaf uses a front-mounted electric motor driving the wheels, powered by a 24kW·h/90 kW lithium ion battery pack. The expected cruising range is the same as the EV-11 prototype, as is the engine. The battery pack is made of air-cooled stacked modules.

Although an exact price has not been announced, the car is expected to cost somewhere between $25,000 and $33,000.

Performance

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

The battery 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. It can also be charged from a conventional 110- or 220-volt alternating current outlet.