Nissan Leaf
Posted 15/11/2012
The 100% Electric Nissan Leaf
At Ecoisland we often get asked about the 100% electric Nissan LEAF when out at Island events so, when Dave Perkis of Staddlestones in Ryde offered us a trial, I gladly accepted. It was with great jubilation that I dumped my dirty petrol car round the corner and arrived to collect the LEAF, which I would be testing for a week to see if you really can live with an EV.
First impressions were good; an attractive design with 5 doors, a generous boot and funky dashboard. The handover was quick and easy and within minutes I was ready to roll so, on a dark and wet Friday evening, I set off on my zero emission travels. As expected the LEAF is virtually silent, Nissan has deliberately fitted a low speed rumble as a warning to pedestrians but once above 15mph there is only the faintest sound. I was instantly struck by the high level of creature comforts, with keyless entry, push button start, climate control, built in colour touch screen display, SatNav, Bluetooth, electric handbrake, LED lights and reversing camera the LEAF is a lovely place to be. It’s also very quick, with a limited speed of 90mph (which I didn’t test out on Island roads) and an impressive 0-60mph acceleration in 12 seconds it is enjoyable and practical to drive.
Unlike many electric vehicles, the LEAF was designed from the battery up, with every component designed to increase range and noise. The lithium-ion batteries are situated along the floor of the vehicle, resulting in a low centre of gravity and better handling. In short, I had a lot of fun. It’s nippy and innovative, got me where I needed to go in style and comfort and is a real talking point wherever you stop. The initial elation of avoiding the petrol station is marred slightly by the challenges of finding a plug on your travels but a bit of journey planning soon becomes second nature and, even without off-road parking, I was able to survive quite happily for my EV week safe in the knowledge that every mile was emission free.
Common concerns when discussing EVs are charging time, battery life and range, and unfortunately this are where the Leaf does fall down. The official maximum range of 100 miles is a great starting point, but in practise you get a lot less and at times the miles shown on your dashboard can decrease dramatically, leading to the dreaded ‘range anxiety’. Economical driving is encouraged by the growing fir tree on your display, which shrinks and disappears the harder and faster you drive, and regenerative braking does go some way to conserving charge making it a viable option for regular Island driving.
The advised full charging time is approximately 8 hours and this can be done either via a dedicated charging point or straight into the mains at home. At no point did I allow the range to drop below 20 miles but despite that, after leaving the Leaf plugged in to our charging point for a whole working day, was unable to reach the full charge of 100 miles, only making it to 93 miles with approximately 30 minutes left to the maximum. I was unable to test the Leaf on a fast charge but you can expect a dramatically improved time of less than 2 hours if you can access this facility. Currently there is only a handful of EV charging points across the Island, but Ecoisland is facilitating the installation of a further nine in public access areas in conjunction with SSE. These will be useable by April and are expected to be available on a pay-as-you-go basis.
For those concerned about the carbon footprint of new car production and the afterlife of spent batteries there is welcome news, the Leaf is made from 20% recycled parts and with 95% recoverable components, including the battery which is expected to retain 76% efficiency after the guaranteed life span of 5 years.
Aside from the environmental benefits of electric powered vehicles there is the added value of reduced running costs. Nissan calculate that in comparison to current petrol prices the Leaf works out at 339mpg, or as little as 2p per mile when charging at off peak times when the electricity tariff is lowest. As a zero emission vehicle it is also road tax exempt, but whether this softens the blow of the overall purchase price remains to be seen. Currently (guaranteed until April 2013) the Government contributes a £5000 grant towards the purchase price, resulting in a starting price of £25,990.
For me, the Leaf’s biggest success is being distinctly ordinary. In many ways it really is just like any other car, and a very nice car at that. It is undeniable that the cost, range and underdeveloped infrastructure present real issues for potential users but it is a welcome sign of things to come and with the speed that technology is advancing I’m sure we’ll see EVs entering the mainstream in the very near future…. Imagine how quiet the roads will be!
Fact File;
- Five-door hatchback with 80kW (107bhp) AC synchronous (brushless) front wheel drive electric motor
- Powered by a 92-cell, 551lb, 24kWh, 90kW (121bhp) lithium-ion battery
- 0-60mph in 12 seconds, top speed limited to 90mph
- Maximum range 100 miles
- Approximately 8 hours to fully charge
- Drive for as little as 2p per mile (when charging off peak, around 4p on peak)
- Purchase price £25, 990 (includes £5000 until April 2013)
Nissan Leaf Dashboard
Nissan Leaf Charging
