Nissan LEAF
The Nissan LEAF has now been around for some time and entered Nissan into the EV marketing with aplomb. They have taken another step towards the mainstay of electric vehicles with the new generation Nissan LEAF with more range and comfort.
Nissan has been forthcoming about their view that internal combustion engines will gradually be phased out and that the electric vehicle market will only continue to grow. Of course, the range is still a big talking point but with extensive product and investment plans, it’s only a matter of time before everyone has to accept the new age of electric driving could be the answer.
It will be some time before mass-produced combustion engine vehicles will be forgotten but the shift is coming. The issue is more than just cars though as it involves every form of transport from buses, trains, helicopters and aeroplanes to boats and cargo ships.
This idea is not currently economically sustainable for manufacturers or governments and for 428 billion reasons. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association in 2019, “motor vehicles account for €428 billion in tax contributions in the EU-15 countries alone”.
The Quintessential Nissan LEAF EV
Nissan believes that cars will become obsolete consumer goods with a focus on space and function rather than speed, style, glamour, power and noise. Looking at the second-generation Nissan LEAF EV, it fits this description to a tee.
It may not be the best looking or fastest car ever made and it’s not as comfortable as a luxury sedan. However, the car works exactly as promised, capable of delivering an impressive range along with all the necessary driver comfort features and technology you’d come to expect from most modern cars.
First introduced in 2010, the Nissan LEAF has become the world’s top-selling electric vehicle as it combines an attractive price, range and practicality. The new Nissan LEAF flagship e+ model is leading the way with 239 miles (148 km) range which is not record-breaking but impressive in the current EV climate.
Every Nissan LEAF is flexible when it comes to charging options and just the beginning. The ProPILOT autonomous abilities include a self-parking system and nifty ‘traffic jam-busting mode’ making stop-start traffic more manageable. Then there’s the ‘e-pedal’ which ramps up regenerative braking so you can essentially drive the car using one pedal. That is a huge advantage for EVs while smartphone connectivity is seamless and completely hassle-free.
Second Generation Nissan Juke
Nissan has not shied away from talking about the future of EVs as they recently unveiled the second-generation Nissan Juke. While the original appeared to have been a cage-rattler to liven up the small car market, the new Nissan Juke looks much improved but makes less of a statement.
The new Nissan Juke is designed at the company’s European design centre in Paddington, London, and created for Europe. As stated by Matthew Weaver, Nissan’s design director, ‘Juke will always be synonymous with challenge and disruption. We knew we had to move the game on a lot – when it debuted in 2010 it was the only car in its segment. Now are there are more than 20.’
The new Juke is bigger, better and more luxurious with the launch date set for 2020. While initially, the new Juke won’t be electric or hybrid, the possibilities are there which could spell further success for Nissan’s EV market share.
Final Thoughts
Talks about electric vehicles will continue with healthy debates for both sides but conventional cars still show considerably higher sales volumes and profits. For some perspective, the company also produces the Nissan Qashqai which has sales figures of around 250,000 unit each year in Europe.
The Nissan LEAF may be forging a path for small EVs but it’s not financially viable, at least not yet. It seems that a combined approach seems more realistic and inevitable but for those who would prefer personal mobility in a world without cars, the Nissan IMk concept could be a more optimistic choice.
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