godai (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-03-09 10:36 AM
Original message
Nissan Leaf (electric car) available next year.
Nissan has just unveiled a new zero emissions vehicle that is slated to go on sale in Japan, Europe and the United States next year. Called the LEAF, this C-segment (sub-compact) car is powered by an electric motor and lithium-ion battery packs. Nissan says it will be able to drive 100 miles on a single charge. The batteries will be able to be charged up to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes with a special quick charger, or in roughly eight hours through a standard 200V outlet. Nissan says that through extensive research the 100 mile range will be suitable for 70 percent of car buyers.
Output from the lithium-ion battery packs is rated at 80kW/280Nm, (107-hp and 207 ft-lbs of torque), which should make this sub-compact a sporty little car.
Pricing has yet to be released but Nissan aims to give the LEAF an MSRP competitive with well-equipped C-segment cars. That should put it near the $20,000 mark. The car will also qualify for government rebates and tax incentives desigend to help promote the sale of fuel-efficient cars.
“Our car had to be the world’s first, medium-sized, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that’s what we’ve created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility,†said the LEAF product boss Masato Inoue.
The first LEAFs will be built at Nissan’s plant in Oppama, Japan with plans to also start production soon at the company’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant. The LEAF is the first of three electric vehicles that Nissan plans to launch in the next few years.
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2009/08/breaking-nis...
http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6208245What will they think of next? A $20,000 car that can go 100 miles (your mileage may vary), and then only take a half-hour to refuel. And it will be spacious enough for a passenger or two bags of groceries!
redqueen (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-03-09 10:43 AM
Response to Original message
1. I want one!
I'm going to wait for one of the jug-eared Kenyan's car companies to come out with their version. I hear government marketing experts are planning to call it the "POS". It will be so gentle on the planet! Of course, we can't allow any more electricity generating plants to be built. If we use batteries to run our cars, we don't need old-fashioned electricity, right?
Robb (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-03-09 11:03 AM
Response to Original message
3. Not too bad
...Although someone tell me what the HELL is going on with the rear end of that car.
No, DUmmy Robb, I'm sorry, but it is indeed bad.
RockaFowler (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-03-09 11:05 AM
Response to Original message
4. Wow!! I want one
I could deal with 100 miles. It's 50 miles one way to work for me. This would fit in perfectly for me.
Can someone go pick up DUmmy RockaFowler? And he needs his golf cart towed to a charging station, please.
godai (1000+ posts) Mon Aug-03-09 11:09 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. And, they're setting up 30 min quick charge stations.
Each car has GPS indicating a nearby quick charge station, if you're getting low on charge. I've read where Nissan is working with states to setup quick charge networks.
100 miles = good commuter. Hopefully that's in real miles, not industry miles.
You mean you only need to spend a half-hour fueling, and then you're ready for nearly two hours back on the road? (If there is always a charging station exactly where you want it.)
