Nissan Leaf is Best Electric Car for Many in 2010 and 2011

Nissan LEAF Electric Car Attracts over 100,000 Potential Buyers

By John Addison (updated 7/30/10; original 4/27/10)

2011 Nissan LEAF with 100 Mile Electric Range

The Nissan LEAF will be the first to put over 10,000 freeway-speed electric cars on the road. It is a pure electric with no gasoline tank. This sleek 5-door hatchback seats five. The electric range is 100 miles on the U.S. EPA LA4 city drive cycle. Go 80 miles per hour on the freeway and you won’t see 100 miles, nor will you get the full range climbing mountain roads.

My wife and I completed the online reservation for Nissan LEAF SL including our $99 refundable deposit. Living in a city, Marci only needs a 40-mile range for her speech therapy work at two schools; living two blocks from transit and car sharing, I rarely need one. For long-trips, or times when we both need a car, we will probably keep our hybrid as a back-up and for driving longer trips rather than flying.

The LEAF is ideal for many who live in a city where range is rarely an issue, and where transit, car sharing, and car rental are also available. The average U.S. suburban household has two vehicles, so the EV could be ideal as one of those two. For many people, this will not be the best vehicle because the range limitation will not meet their work or personal demands. These people should consider a plug-in hybrid or car with great mileage.

This car is high-tech. The LEAF SV model includes an advanced GPS navigation system. You can control and monitor battery charging and even pre-heat/pre-cool and charging control with your smart phone. The LEAF has Internet/smart phone connectivity to the vehicle, and, Bluetooth connectivity; intelligent-key with push button start, Sirius/XM satellite radio capabilities, and roadside assistance with the vehicle wirelessly notifying a support center. The SL model also includes a rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler which supplies a trickle charge, fog lights, and automatic headlights.

How much did your last gasoline fill-up cost? $20? $40? $80? Your electric utility will typically charge you $3 to fill-up your LEAF. States like California plan to encourage low-cost nightly fill-ups when electricity is available and cheap; these fill-ups may only cost a dollar.

Price

$32,780 or $349 on a 3-year Nissan Lease for the SV
$33,720 or $379 lease for the SL
$7,500 federal tax credit + state incentives make this car an attractive buy
8 year / 100,000 mile drive system and lithium-ion battery warranty

LEAF Test Drive Report

Electric Drive System

Nissan LEAF is powered by 24kWh of laminated lithium-ion batteries made by the NEC-Nissan JV, which generate power output of over 90kW, while its electric motor delivers 80kW/280Nm. This ensures a highly responsive, fun-to-drive experience that is in keeping with what consumers have come to expect from traditional, gasoline-powered automobiles. The LED head lights reduce battery demand at night.

Nissan has not yet announced a battery warranty policy, nor announced the cost of a replacement. I had the same problem when I bought a Prius in 2002. Since Nissan’s 24kWh lithium battery pack is likely to be half of the vehicle’s cost, warranty life will certainly be an issue. Some that normally buy will lease.

Charging

The car includes covered connectors for 110 volt changing and 220 volt J1772 smart charging. Although Nissan explored the idea with Better Place of battery swapping, or a separate battery lease, neither is being offered in the United States at this time. In 8 hours you are good for another 100 miles with a Level 2 AC220V home-use charger; in 26 minutes you can be 80 percent charged with a Level 3 DC 50kW quick charger. The 440v Level 3 chargers are likely to be scare, expensive, and certainly not for home use.

The LEAF is ideal for those who can install a charging unit in their garage. Many drivers, however do not own a garage, so a hybrid or public transportation may be better choices. Over time, we will see charging available at many employers and in multi-unit dwellings such as condos and apartments.

Green Features

Many of the early adopters of the 40,000 EVs on U.S. roads use renewable energy (RE) to charge their vehicles. The RE can be solar or utility provided renewables. Electric car critics and opponents claim that EVs will only result in more coal power. So far this has not happened. Even if coal power were used, the 70% efficient EV uses far less energy than the typical 15% efficient gasoline powered vehicle.

The LEAF and charging unit is designed for smart charging. Through an Internet browser, smartphone, or the car’s display, you can set-up a preference for nighttime charging when unused electricity is available on the grid. When your utility provides for it, you can set-up a preference to charge when excess RE is available. At your fingertips, you can override a normal preference.

Much of this electric car is designed for recycling, and recycled materials are used in building the car. 98 percent of the lithium batteries are expected to be reused in stationary applications or recycled. Nissan LEAF makes extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials, such as seat fabric, instrument panel materials, and front- and rear-bumper fascias. The LED head lights reduce battery demand at night.

Space

The 2011 LEAF offers more space than it would appear from an outside glance. You can seat 5 passengers. When it was brought to San Francisco, Mayor Gavin Newsom at 6 foot, 3 inches, comfortably got in the driver’s seat. He also fit in the back seat. The 60/40 split fold-down rear bench seat can be lowered school supplies, sporting equipment, and business stuff.

Safety

Safety features include vehicle dynamic control (stability control), traction control and six airbags. Nissan has included a number of safety features in the Leaf including:

3-years of roadside assistance including in price
Advanced air bag system (AABS)
seat-mounted driver and front-passenger side-impact supplemental air bags
front-seat active head restraints (AHR)
pipe-style steel side-door guard beams (all side-doors)
Zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones
Energy-absorbing steering column
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
Vehicle dynamic control (VDC)
Traction control system (TCS)
SL Model review monitor provides a video display of the rear camera for safer backups and parking.

Specs

Dimensions

Length: 4445 mm / 175.0 in.
Width: 1770 mm / 69.7 in.
Height : 1550 mm / 61.0 in.
Wheelbase: 2700 mm / 106.3 in.
Weight 3,200 to 3,400 pounds.

Driving range over: 160km/100miles (US LA4 mode)
Max speed (km/h): over 140km/h (over 90mph)

AC Motor

Max power (kW): 80kW
Max torque (Nm): 280Nm

Battery

Type: laminated lithium-ion battery
Total capacity (kWh): 24
Power output (kW): over 90
Energy density (Wh/kg): 140
Power density (kW/kg): 2.5
Number of modules: 48
Charging times: home-use AC200V charger: less than 8 hrs
Optional quick charger DC 50kW (0 to 80%): less than 30 min
Battery under seat & floor

Order and Delivery

Deliveries of the LEAF are expected to trickle in 2010, stream in 2011, and flow like a river in 2012. Over 100,000 people expressed interest in Nissan’s online site. Deposits started on April 20; over 17,000 individuals and fleets have made deposits. Nissan will take new orders using these 4 steps:

1. Reserve at Nissan LEAF site (May 15 might be the next date for new reservations)

2. Home Assessment will be scheduled thru Nissan with an electrician

3. Schedule Charger Installation – Nissan will offer and install AeroVironment 220 volt charging docks at an average cost for the charging dock plus installation of $2,200. Charging dock and installation are eligible for a 50 percent federal tax credit up to $2,000.

4. Order through a Nissan Dealer starting in August 2010

Deliveries will start in December 2010. Increased availability will be spring 2011; full market rollout in 2012. Delivery priority is likely to be influenced by where Nissan has formed more than a dozen partnerships in the United States, in markets including State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County and San Diego in California, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Washington D.C., Seattle, Raleigh, N.C., and with Houston-based Reliant Energy.

Future

Nissan will start with a 50,000 car per year LEAF production in Japan. Nissan will add U.S. manufacturing in 2012. This Tennessee assembly plant will grow to the capacity to build 150,000 Nissan LEAF electric cars per year, and 200,000 lithium-ion battery packs per year. Nissan is serious about being the first to put 10,000 electric cars on the U.S. highways, then continuing to build electric car market share leadership. The lithium packs could also be used in future Nissan hybrid cars. Within three years Nissan will be in volume manufacturing of the LEAF in the United States, Japan, and the UK. Nissan is going after the global market just as petroleum prices near triple their 2008 low and as major cities impose congestion fees for non-zero-emission vehicles.

Other Cars to Investigate

Electric Cars. If you have $100,000, you don’t need to wait for Nissan. Tesla has delivered over 1,000 Roadsters. In 2011, Nissan will face battery electric competition from the Ford Focus EV, Toyota FT-EV, Think, BYD, and many others. Top Electric Cars Report

Plug-in Hybrids may be a better answer if you only have one car and need greater range at times. With a plug-in hybrid, when your lithium battery is near depletion, a gasoline engine engages, giving you hundreds of miles of added range between charges or gasoline fill-ups. In 2011, you can order a Chevy Volt with a 40-mile electric range. Toyota is putting 500 Prius Plug-ins with a 14-mile electric range into fleet tests. Fisker will offer the ultimate in plug-in luxury. Top Electric Cars Report

Light EV. There are 40,000 of the GEM and other 25-mph light electric vehicles on the U.S. roads in university towns, fleets, and retirement communities. With federal and local tax breaks, the net cost is often under $10,000. With the growth of electric cars and charging stations, sales may actually increase for cost-leading light electric vehicles. These will continue to be ideal for many fleet applications and the most cost-effective for short-range trips.

Share and Enjoy:

By John Addison. Publisher of the Clean Fleet Report and conference speaker. (c) Copyright John Addison. Permission to repost up to a 200 word summary if a link is included to the original article at Clean Fleet Report.

17 Responses to “Nissan LEAF Electric Car Attracts over 100,000 Potential Buyers”

Tom Bartley April 27th, 2010, 9:51 pm

Hi John,

Good article. However, in the interest of full discovery I found some places to add comments. As you pointed out that LA4 (UDDS) drive cycle includes less than 2 minutes of a speed over 55 mph. i was thinking that it may match the LA freeways during rush hour. I agree that the Leaf is a perfect solution for the right applications and I’m glad to see Nissan ramping up to a 50,000 annual vehicle production capacity inTennessee.

The only modern data we have for the public acceptance of a game changing technology is the Prius and the Insight. The first Insight didn’t reach sustainable quantities. The Prius took 5 years and needed significant subsidies and promotion to get it over the hump to self sustaining.

Range anxiety, charging infrastructure, and cost are significant barriers to reaching self sustaining production quantities in less than 5 years.

Lack of service requirements could be promoted stronger and the buying public has to really get educated about the cost of electricity and how these new batteries work. In this new paradigm mph means miles (of range) per (chargiing) hour. This is an unusual situation where reality is probably better than the promotion. The ideal battery SOC range for battery life, reliability, and efficiency is about 15% to 90% which also has the benefit of charging much faster than the 100% charge time quoted.

Last, but not least the Volt had to drop it’s promotion of 40 mile electric range to 20 miles when CARB made the battery part of the emission system, thus, requiring 100% warranty for 10 years and 110,000 miles.

My $99 is in there too.

Regards, Tom Bartley.
John Addison April 28th, 2010, 7:47 am

Tom, thanks for the added info about the LA drive cycle and expected adoption of the LEAF. Congratulations on getting your $99 deposit in while you could.
John
To Tom... April 29th, 2010, 6:57 am

Tom,

Where did you get this info?

“…CARB made the battery part of the emission system”

I would love to read up on that. Also… Have you heard anything
about the GOSS132 company? I’ve been reading some very favorable
things about them but they seem to keep the technology guarded
somewhat. I know the competition is heating up so some secrecy
is good, but more released data would probably help alot in my
opinion.

I’m not certain on where they are setting up HQ, or production facilities
but I hear Florida is one location. Houston may be a second, but haven’t
been able to confirm any of that yet.

Any how… if you know anything about GOSS132 I would love to know.

Thanks.

- Jim
discus breeder May 15th, 2010, 1:46 am

Whats up, A fantastic post, I have to admit this is really what we are here for, this place definitely needs bloggers like you. Filling the forum with some good tips and information, I did follow A couple of your posts, they been relevant and nice points were elaborated. I must say we should always be willing to post in our best knowledge to compliment people. Really love your post.
steve June 2nd, 2010, 2:02 pm

I think the electric car is a good idea, however, what I do not understand is that while the wheels are moving, why did Nissan not think of putting in a charging system. They could of put something in the engine or the wheels, connected to an alternator, and recharge the batteries while driving. Also, how about solar panels for the roof, and maybe the hood and trunk. This would come in handy when your stuck in traffic on a 100 mile or so road trip.
I am not an engineer or a M.I.T. graduate, but I think Nissan could of done a better job in designing this car.
Albert Nomano June 19th, 2010, 9:21 am

An airbag is a vehicle safety device. It is an occupant restraint consisting of a flexible envelope designed to inflate rapidly in an automobile collision, to prevent vehicle occupants from striking interior objects such as the steering wheel or window.
Which New Car Has The Best Gas Milieage July 20th, 2010, 6:42 pm

2010 Toyota Prius (48 mpg)

The $28,070 V is equipped with a standard 1.8L, 4-cylinder, engine that achieves 51-mpg in the city and 48-mpg on the highway.
John Addison July 28th, 2010, 2:36 pm

Thank you for the kind words. Yes, I think you are on to something about a price war in a few years. Solar power is 100X cheaper than the 1970s. When lithium battery packs fall from $700 per kW to half that cost thru chemistry improvements and volume pack production, electric car prices should drive down.

Clean Fleet Reporthybrid & electric cars smart charged with renewable energy

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