New Nissan Leaf Promises You More Or Less
Nissan showed a refreshed version of its all-electric Leaf today. Available to the Japanese market at first, it offers both more and less.
Through a number of system tweaks, the nominal range under the Japanese JC08 test cycle has been raised from 200km (124 miles) to 228 km (141 miles). Of course, that Japanese cycle is completely out of touch with the real world, but there is hope that under the right conditions, you might get more than 10 percent additional range out of the new Leaf.
In the more department, there are added computer functions that tell you for instance what percentage of battery power is left, or what the state of charge may be when your reach your destination. Leather seats are available, a BOSE energy efficient sound system, regenerative braking has been enhanced, and the cabin heater works with a power saving heat pump.
In the less department, there is a lower price by way of a more frugal “S” (as in Spartan?) grade that dispenses with luxuries such as aluminum wheels, LED headlights, or the germ killing Plasma Cluster Ion generator. With Japanese subsidies applied, the Japanese entry price comes down from nearly 3 million yen ($37,000) to some 2.5 million yen ($31,000).
The new Leaf also is less dependent on China. The rare earth used in the electric motor has been reduced by 40 percent.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Nice changes on the plus side, but I'm not interested in the "S" model or leather seats. And that JC08 test cycle must be all downhill. I'd like to see them extend the range with more battery - maybe in the trunk area.
It's a small step in the right direction, but Nissan is going to have to do something about the lack of a battery pack thermal management system if they want to sell these in the southern parts of our continent. I saw pictures of the forthcoming Chevy Spark EV (unfortunate name, eh) battery pack, and it clearly has liquid cooling lines coming out of it. I'm really interested to see what MSRP the Spark EV will hit.