2013 Nissan LEAF increases range
Nissan is hoping to nail 'range anxiety' fears with its upgraded LEAF electric carNissan has taken the wraps off its updated 2013 LEAF electric car, which is lighter, more efficient and has a greater range than previously.
Launched quietly in Japan this week, and expected to arrive in Australia in 2013 says Nissan Australia, the upgraded Nissan LEAF gets blink-and-you'll-miss-them exterior updates – blue-tinted LED headlights and new alloy wheels, but it's under the skin where the where the lion's share of the development money went.
A lighter, more efficient battery pack not only contributes to the car's 80kg weight saving, but also improves the cruising range (up around 14 per cent for Japanese models to 228km). Australian models have a lower cruising range than Japanese models, but are still likely to rise from the current 170km to around 200km. The regenerative brake system has also been tweaked to deliver better energy gains from deceleration.
On top of changes to the lithium-ion battery pack, the entire electric powertrain has been modified and is now lighter, making use of a new electric motor, DC/DC converter and new inverter, all of which requires some 30 per cent less volume in the boot. And that opens up an extra 40 litres of cargo space, up from 330 litres to 370 litres. The increase boot space is also helped by relocating the smaller charging unit from the rear of the car to the front.
Reliance on rare earth elements such as dysprosium have been reduced says Nissan, which helps "minimise environmental impacts", and three new exterior colours are offered: Brilliant White Pearl, Dark Metal Grey and White. Nissan has made alterations to the interior of the car offering a black dashboard finish in addition to the original white. Leather seats are now optional, as is the company's Around View Monitor parking system, and a light-weight BOSE Energy Efficient Series stereo to boot. Even the heater is new, which contributes to the car's efficiency.
A Plasma Cluster Ion generator has also been fitted, a device borrowed from Nissan's luxury brand Infiniti that "eliminates odors and kills germs".
The Nissan LEAF is priced at $51,500 in Australia and has had a slow start to life, with just 68 units sold thus far in 2012.
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