Nissan's new EV is called the Nissan Leaf. "Designer Shiro Nakamura said the vehicle was designed to avoid a stereotypical futuristic design."This is not a niche car," he said. "We didn't make it unusual looking. It had to be a real car." Nissan rolls out electric car at new headquarters - Yahoo! Finance "The mid-sized hatchback, which will go on sale in late 2010 in Japan" (from photo caption, below) It will become a global model in 2012. The news reports are unreliable on the time frame that the car will become available - another report, from Reuters, says "Nissan will begin selling the first Leaf cars in the United States and Japan in the latter half of next year" Photos: Yahoo! News Search Results for nissan electric http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090802/ids_photos_wl/r518112619.jpg/ http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090802/ids_photos_wl/r3794871742.jpg/
This is an amazingly beautiful car (from the front and side). I'm really curious what the back-end looks like though.
You might like the pictures on the Nissan site... they didn't a great job with it IMO. Nissan Leaf Electric Car | Nissan USA Official Site
Funny thing is (Q and A's from the websight); Q: Will the price include the battery pack? Or will there be an option to rent/lease the battery pack? A: Leasing vs. buying the battery isn?t ironed out yet. Looking at which options best meet our customers? needs. Q: There is great anticipation for the Nissan EV ! Would we get a ballpark price ? Hope so ... A: All we can say for now is that the plan is to price it in the range of a typical family sedan. IOW, no price, and maybe no battery? How am I supposed to tinker with the battery, if I don't even own it !?! No price? Sheez. What do you think ... is that because Nissan doesn't want to end up looking like GM shmucks? .... shmucks in the sense that GM quotes a reasonably priced Volt some day, only to jack up the price again & again? Yea, well the 9 page thread came TWO days AFTER the one I started in the EV collum, and no one seemed to care. That's what happens when you put an EV page in the EV catagory where it belongs ... no one looks. So ... starting another thread? I feel the pain my bratha. Yep, they're EV's we're talkin' about, not hybrids. But here we are .
(As a former owner of 2 Nissans, now just 1.) FWIW, IMHO, Nissan's styling is rather hit or miss. Designing rear ends has never been their strong point.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: That said, the EXCELENT thing is the "PLUG" ... it appears to be similar to one of the "Fast Charge" models I've seen: Nothing of the web site talks about charge times. They DO talk about their proprietary lithium technology being powerful and light. Wouldn't that be something? Decent range AND quick charging may be married sooner than anyone thought. I understand how the 'naysayers' feel ... "oh sure ... probably won't even make it to market' ... but most Japanese companies keep their cards close to their chest. So I'm guessing they're pretty dang far along! (hope hope) I'm also hoping that the good folks of Toyota are NOT in panic mode, looking at this ... and that they'll be springing something similar on the public real soon. 2010 is going to be a wild year.
Kinda looks like a Prius from the front & the way a Prius should have looked all along. The only reason to announce pricing & specs so far out is to spread FUD or take deposits. A year or two or more is still a long way out. The smart player keeps his mouth shut & his cards close to the vest until it is time to ship product.
Right now, do you buy your gasoline from Toyota or from a third party company? This question you posted just got me thinking...maybe it would be a great idea for manufacturers to sell cars without batteries but agree on a standard. Then, third party companies can make batteries. This way, there would be a whole separate industry competing to make battery, cheaper, more dependable, more efficient batteries. Just an idea, but I think it could be very good for consumers. The title of the other thread is on the order of "A Nissan EV will be coming." This thread says "Dude! It's here! Check out these photos!" I wouldn't want that to get lost in NINE pages of speculative posts. Thanks!
Right, that's why I wasn't all like REPOST!! REPOST, THIS is a REPOST!! ....lol I hate when people do that.
I agree with the folks in the other thread started by myself that the LEAF (we no longer have to say the Nissan EV) will have major challenges to reach the desired level of popularity. This challenge will be a lot less in Europe and Japan where 80% of the average daily driving is only or bellow 32 miles!!! I really like my Prius and I don’t see anything replacing it during my commute with weekly trips of 400 miles (one way), but when I'm done with that commute in 3-4 years, the LEAF could (and probably will) easily replace it. Why? Because here are the impressions (not facts because the car is not available yet for real) of the LEAF compared to the Prius based on what Nissan has released to date and on information from prototype test drivers and reviews: - When I come back to my original commute, I can drive the LEAF for almost one WHOLE week before recharging it. How about long trips? - Many people with kids like me have a bigger and more comfy family car for long trips, in my case, I have a Honda Odyssey, and so I would not be worried about interrupting a long road trip to recharge as I always use my Odyssey in those trips. - The LEAF will be more powerful and quieter than the Prius. - It seems that cargo space and interior room will be similar or maybe better than the Prius - Interior technology will most likely be outstanding in a car like this (did you know that some of the the car eletronics could be controlled remotely by iPhone?) http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/TECH...DETAILS/EV-IT/ - ZERO emissions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - People that know me, knows that I’m not a big fan of the Prius looks... and YES, the LEAF does look a lot better to my eyes! So, based on the info available so far, I really don’t see any reason why I should not replace my 2010 Prius for a LEAF when I come back to my normal commute in 3-4 years, which will also be times when better infrastructure will be in place to support it (hopefully). Just like Toyota was ahead 10 years ago by stepping first in the hybrid world, Nissan is ahead now with the EV concept, which is, in my opinion, poised to become the future of cars... we, Prius fans, just have to accept it.
IMHO, leasing batteries is a great move (GM is also planning on this) to alleviate buyers' concern about battery life and its replacement cost. As mentioned and suggested by some prior posts, US government should gather automakers and set battery standard so that battery exchange can become a viable business all over USA. This would extend the range of EVs and make it even more popular (instead of being a 2nd vehicle of the households).
I have major concerns about that. They could pull another "EV1" on consumers. What happens if you own a 2012 EV, and in 2020, GM sends you a letter in the mail that says "GM is discontinuing the battery compatible with your vehicle. When your battery lease expires, you will need to return your battery. Because you are a valued GM customer, we are offering you $500 off of a new vehicle if you bring this letter with you." Toyota doesn't seem to be having any problems selling the battery along with the Prius. I suppose the battery could be "battery sold separately. don't forget to ask your salesman to sell you a battery also." I see the benefits in leasing; however I see the legal drawbacks as well. The consumer should have the option.
Yep, looks like a Prius in the front, sides like the Matrix...rear is original. I like the rear a lot, with all those lights for extra security. Full Of Win.
Many feel like leasing batteries for your electric fuel, is tantamount to leasing a gas tank to hold your gas ... for the great reason that you don't have to do maintenance on the gas tank. Heck ... why not lease the wheel spindles ... maybe the controller too. Why not the whole car?!? No ~ many feel a lease is not their best choice, just as most people don't like living in a trailer park ... where you buy the trailer and then only rent the land underneith. Better/Worse Majority/Minority ~ that's just how it is. Again, the OFFICIAL word from Nissan is that the there is NO DECISION about battery leasing ... and they'll do what's best for the customer. It doesn't matter that some blogger supposedly quotes someone from Nissan, who allegedly said something. Go by what they're saying. Until the car actually gets off the blueprint & into production, it's a lot of nail biting over nothing. .
I've talked about the good points of leasing the battery pack a few times so I just want to say: I think having a lease option is the best way to go. Let the consumer decide if they want to purchase a battery pack for the purpose of owning the whole car and for those who want an option that will allow them to upgrade the battery pack as advancements make better units available that option is still available. I hope Nissan can see all the negative press GM has gotten for it's EV1 stunt and know that they seriously shouldn't repeat it.
