Here is an article announcing the new Nissan Leaf; a fully electric vehicle and touted as zero emissions, with a range of 100 miles and a top speed of 90 mph.


Introducing the Nissan Leaf Electric Vehicle

Posted by: Ian Rowley on August 02

http://www.businessweek.com/autos/au...s/Leafweb2.JPG

Amid much fanfare, Nissan finally showed off the first of several new electric vehicles this morning at the opening of its new global headquarters in Yokohama. Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, a longtime skeptic on hybrids, is betting that the Leaf and other EVs, will quickly become mass market hits, and even suggested that fully electric models could account for 10% of all car sales by 2020.

The car looks much like other mass market models. Despite its name, the design doesn’t scream “eco-car” and, unlike some electric vehicles of the past, space inside isn’t compromised. Capable of seating five, Ghosn and three Japanese politicians with connections to Yokohama, including former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, emerged from the “blue earth” colored Leaf with ease after it appeared on the stage.

The grand entrance was followed by a short video featuring an assortment of school-children explaining how good the Leaf is for all our futures. One youngster, presumably of his own free will, even compared the Leaf to an angel coming down to Earth.

Ghosn, though, focused on the practicalities, reiterating Nissan’s plan that the Leaf, which runs a 100 miles on a single charge, excluding the cost of the batteries, will cost no more to buy and run than a traditional gasoline-powered car. Zero-emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, he said, are a bonus. Charging time is seven hours, although a 30-minute quick charge can get batteries back up to 80% of full power.

Key to its success will be bringing down the cost of the batteries, which currently cost around $10,000 per car to make. Sensibly, Nissan plans to lease the batteries to customers rather than try to sell the car at an inflated price. Initially, the carmaker will share the burden by taking advantage of government subsidies and cheap loans to ensure sales are profitable from day one. The challenge will be to get costs down to a sufficient level by the time governments begin scaling back incentives. Mass production should help. Ghosn, once again emphasizing the importance of affordability, said that the cost of leasing the batteries, plus the electricity used to charge them, will be less than what customers spend on gasoline for regular cars.

Even if the economics remain challenging—no other automaker is yet following the mass-market approach of Nissan and its alliance partner Renault—the Leaf is an enjoyable drive. I tried out a version of the car, albeit with a different body, earlier this week on a Nissan test track. The acceleration and handling were impressive and, importantly, it felt steady and secure. In terms of size, the version I drove, which measures 4.4 meters long by 1.7 meters wide, was perfectly comfortable. Indeed, when I then drove a Nissan Tiida (Versa in the U.S.) a few minutes later, I realized I much preferred the EV.

Ghosn once again took aim at hybrids, which he says have failed to become a mass market choice. He pointed out that their global market share is just 2%. To me, that’s slightly disingenuous given that, until recently, only Toyota and Honda were serious about gas-electrics. What’s more, Toyota expects to sell over a million hybrids a year in a year or so, and both Toyota and Honda reckon hybrids will soon account for 10% of their sales. Also, hybrids, unlike EVs, aren’t hindered by short driving ranges, use batteries that cost a fraction of the cost of electric cars and don’t require billions of dollars of public subsidy. Ghosn, though, reckons that the only thing stopping EVs becoming a mass market phenomenon will be automakers’ ability to make them quickly enough. “The problem we have is will we have enough capacity,” he said.

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

Rather than make the original post too long, I've split it.

Many here who are die-hard truckers will not find this of major intrest; I, however find it to be wonderful news.

My daily driving, now that I am retired involves a couple of trips downtown for shopping, visiting friends for coffee and the like. Total driving doesn't exceed 15 miles a day.

Currently, I only own my Titan and a motorcycle. I've had to restrict my motorcycle riding because of a bad hip. So, I end up driving my Titan on all these short visits to town.

The Leaf, if I can get one would be a major savings on gas, and wear and tear caused by short trips on my Titan.

While the advertising touts 100% emissions free, we all know that to be side-stepping the issue. True the car itself doesn't create any emissions; however the power plants that do produce the electricity needed to charge the battery does. Then too, the battery involves emission charges when it finally needs to be recycled.

Expected price will be in the range of $16K to $25K plus the battery lease. Nissan ends up eating some of the cost, surely a means to introduce the Leaf to the market and get the concept into the mainstream. Operating costs of the Leaf's battery lease and charging are expected to be less than the cost of operating a similar class vehicle running on gas.

In today's Seattle Times the following article demonstrates that federal money is being used to build-up the infrastructure needed to make the use of all electric vehicles more practical:

Local News | Stimulus funds jolt car-charging-station plans | Seattle Times Newspaper

I really hope this works out and that I can afford to purchase one when it becomes available.

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

I'm for it and if I lived in town would have no problem driving one as a commuter. it would be nice to see businesses purchasing them too like Pizza delivery and courier services etc. Trucks have a place but as daily drivers I think their time has come and gone. The environment is why I bought my Cummins with the 2010 Emissions rather then a smoking 07 5.9L..............................it's time to think beyond me.

UPDATE:

Here is a link to a Road & Track article along with video links about the Leaf EV and a new urban car that leans in the turns:

RoadandTrack.com -- Auto Shows - Nissan Preview: 2009 Tokyo Motor Show (10/2009)

Red

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy

As a commuter car, I think they would work fine. I'm not so sure about the freeway tho'. Around here you have to drive quite a ways to get around town. As an example, it takes about an hour to an hour and a half to drive across town, via the freeway to the last house I owned. At 70-75 mph, would the batteries hold up?

The Leaf EV, might, but I'm not positive. I think its range is about 200 miles in Urban travel. High speed would reduce that range. Time will tell, and, just as a pick-up isn't ideal for tight urban driving, the smaller urban electrics are freeway flyers either.

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2005 Titan KC SE, Helwig, True-Track, ARE MX Canopy