The New Nissan Leaf
Since 2010 when the first Leaf was launched, Nissan has dominated the electric vehicle segment in the market, with sales figures that show the Leaf as the top selling EV in the United States for several years. That being said, the car company has not been resting on its laurels. Quite the opposite in fact and the result of a constant strive to improve and develop new technologies and grow the EV market further, Nissan has just released the new second generation Leaf. And it was well worth the wait.
Bold design and industry-leading technology coupled with groundbreaking new features and significantly improved battery and driving range capabilities make the 2018 Nissan Leaf not only a more evolved and advanced version of its predecessor, but also puts it into in a class of its own because it’s so much more than just an EV.
Design
The New Nissan Leaf – Design
The design of the interior and exterior of the new Nissan Leaf fell to Senior Vice President of Nissan Global Design, Alfonso Albaisa. He described the Leaf as having “a low and sleek proportion that is sharp and dynamic.” The new model stands wider and lower, giving it a distinct and edgy character. The signature V-motion grille and the sleek bonnet are perfectly framed by the elegant boomerang detail LED lights. The “bullet-like profile” of the Nissan Leaf is modern, without being to outlandishly futuristic. It is sleek and stylish and looks set to continue forging the road ahead for the EV sector.
Technology
The New Nissan Leaf – Technology
Hideyuki Sakamoto is the Executive Vice President for Product Engineering at Nissan. It is under his watchful eye that the various technological aspects of the Leaf have developed. The Nissan Leaf is fitted with Nissan’s self-drive system, ProPILOT. According to Mr. Sakamoto, feedback from customers is that it offers a “comfortable and stress-free driving experience.” It works by taking over the vehicle’s steering, braking and accelerating once programmed by the driver. “It is a single-lane autonomous driving technology that you can use on highways,” explained Mr. Sakomoto. There is also ProPILOT Park which as you might have guessed parks your car for you by using its rear sensors and other automated features.
Nissan has also developed the e-Pedal which allows the driver to start, stop, slow the car down and keep the car stationary on a hill using a single pedal, thanks to the use of regenerated and friction brakes simultaneously.
Drive and Range
The New Nissan Leaf – Range
The Leaf has been through a metamorphosis under the bonnet too. Fitted with a 110kW high power motor, the car accelerates smoothly. The new 40kW battery means that driving range has increased by 40%. The new Leaf has undergone an overhaul that has improved its power and range, but also the way in which it drives. The Leaf drives not unlike a petrol car now.
All the work that has gone into reimagining the Leaf really has paid off. It is so much more than just an EV. There is careful consideration and thought behind every component of the Nissan Leaf because of the understanding that today, the Leaf is a highly relevant model, and is where the future of the motor industry is going.
“While an EV is an exciting technology, alone it is not enough to move people to a better world. To do that, you need a bigger vision and a bolder strategy. You need a vision that considers EVs as part of a larger package of ingenuity which delivers an exciting drive and an enhanced ownership experience and contributes to a better world,” explains Daniele Schillaci, Executive Vice President, Global Marketing and Sales, Zero-Emission Vehicles and Battery Business & MC Japan/A&O (Japan, Asia, Oceania Business).
