THE CHARGE DOWN ELECTRIC AVENUE BEGINS

The Nissan LEAF marks the start of a new chapter in personal mobility. It will be the first affordable, purpose-designed zero emission electric vehicle from a major manufacturer to be mass marketed globally. The future is here.

"The world is changing and Nissan is a catalyst for that change. The Nissan LEAF is the world's first mass-produced mainstream electric vehicle from a mainstream manufacturer. It is serious car, a real car, and the right car for the times."

Pierre Loing, Vice President, Product and Advance Planning, Nissan International SA

At a glance

Nissan LEAF goes on sale in the UK in March 2011
Built in the UK from 2013 at Nissan’s manufacturing facility in Sunderland
Nissan LEAF is a purpose designed EV
It is a five-seater C-segment hatchback
It performs similar to a C-segment hatchback
But it produces no tailpipe emissions
It is not...
... a quadricycle
... an electric conversion
... or a hybrid
It is the world's first mainstream mass market pure EV

Overview

The waiting is almost over. Global sales of Nissan’s revolutionary Nissan LEAF electric vehicle will begin in the US, Japan and in selected European markets in late 2010. Nissan LEAF goes on sale in the UK in March 2011, with initial models built in Japan. British-built LEAF models will emerge from Nissan’s UK manufacturing facility in Sunderland from 2013.

The significance of the zero emission Nissan LEAF cannot be overstated. It has been created as a clean sheet design and is neither a conversion of an existing petrol-powered model nor is it a city-based quadricycle. It is not even a hybrid relying on an internal combustion engine to supplement an electric engine.

Rather, Nissan LEAF is a C-segment family car offering all the space, practicality and performance of any of its conventional rivals... but with one notable difference. It is a pure EV, promising no tailpipe emissions and low running costs. Nissan LEAF is the first competitively-priced, purpose-designed mass-produced EV from any major motor manufacturer and is just the first in a range of EVs due from the company and from Nissan's Alliance partner Renault.

"Make no mistake, Nissan LEAF is evidence of Nissan's leadership - with Alliance partner Renault - of the zero emission market and of the company's serious intent to transform the future of personal mobility all over the world," said Pierre Loing, Vice President, Product and Advance Planning, Nissan International SA and responsible for Nissan's Zero Emission strategy in Europe.

"It is a real car, a roomy five-seater hatchback, offering a level of performance similar to other cars in its class. But best of all, there are no tailpipe emissions at all. Against a backdrop of climate change that alone marks it out as a car of the future."

Sales and marketing

In Europe, order books will open in selected markets in summer with the first batch of cars, all left-hand drive, due in late 2010. Right-hand drive cars go on sale in the UK in March 2011.

Even though the exact process is still under discussion, sales will be to stakeholders, fleet operators and private customers from the outset. Among the stakeholder customers are major rental companies Europcar and Hertz, both of whom have signed MoUs with Nissan.

Tom Smith, Nissan LEAF Chief Marketing Manager, Nissan International SA, said: "We are investigating different sales including purchase of the car and lease of the battery and leasing of both car and battery. Whichever route is chosen, the end result, once government incentives have been factored in, will be to provide a car at an affordable price in line with other premium C-segment cars that offers a significant advantage in running costs.

"As well as selling to fleet customers, we will also be targeting private customers, early adopters who understand the benefits of zero emission vehicles."

In addition, a Nissan LEAF roadshow will visit European cities and major towns to bring the car and the technology to the general public. A similar scheme is already in place in America and has generated not just huge public interest but also serious purchase enquiries.

Manufacturing

The cars will be manufactured at Nissan's plant in Oppama, Japan, with an initial annual capacity of 50,000 units but production will start at a second plant - in Smyrna, Tennessee - in late 2012. When full capacity is reached the Smyrna plant alone will produce 150,000 units annually.

Nissan's Senior Vice President Andy Palmer and Business Secretary Peter Mandelson have also announced that the new LEAF electric vehicle will be built at Nissan's Sunderland manufacturing facility. The first British-built LEAF EVs will roll off the production line in early 2013, with initial annual production capacity of around 50,000 vehicles.

Construction of this advanced lithium-ion battery plant in the UK will begin this April. The facility, which will also be located at Sunderland, will have a production capacity of 60,000 units a year and will start manufacturing batteries in 2012 for both Nissan and its Alliance partner Renault.

The production of Nissan LEAF and the batteries represents a total investment of more than £420 million in the Sunderland Plant and is expected to maintain about 2,250 jobs at Nissan and across the UK supply chain. The investment will be supported by a £20.7 million Grant for Business Investment ( GBI) from the UK Government and a proposed finance package from the European Investment Bank of up to £197.3 million.

The UK’s Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said: “This investment is a fantastic vote of confidence in the Sunderland plant and its excellent workforce. The automotive sector is of key importance to the UK . It supports R&D, technological innovation, skills and a supply chain that’s a mainstay of the wider manufacturing sector.

“Today’s news from Nissan, with support from government, shows that by working together we can achieve our aim of making the UK a world-leader in ultra-low carbon vehicles.”

Battery manufacture has already started in Japan but Nissan has announced that new battery plants will be established in Portugal and the UK, as well as at Smyrna Tennessee in the near future.

Portugal’s lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant will be located in Aveiro, 250km north of the capital, Lisbon. Nissan is investing over €160 Million in the new Portuguese facility, which will directly create 200 new jobs. Construction gets underway this year and production is scheduled to begin in 2012, with projected annual capacity reaching 50,000 units. Renault has also announced plans to produce batteries for the Alliance at Renault's Flins plant in France.

"The EV and battery programme represents a huge investment for Nissan and for Renault. But it is clear that this is the right time for the EV: society is making that demand," said Loing. "And we are ready to answer that demand."

The Nissan LEAF

The engineers and designers behind Nissan LEAF worked to create a competitively priced real-world car that would offer all the comfort, spaciousness and luggage capacity of a premium C-segment car.

"Our car had to be the world's first, medium-size, practical EV that motorists could afford and would want to use every day. And that's what we've created. The styling will identify not only Nissan LEAF but also the owner as a participant in the new era of zero-emission mobility," said Masato Inoue, Product Chief Designer.

Built on a new platform, Nissan LEAF sits on a generous 2700 mm wheelbase. It is 4445 mm long, 1770 mm wide and 1550 mm tall. Power comes from an in-house developed compact electric motor in the front of the car driving the front wheels. The AC motor develops 80 kW of power and 280 Nm of torque, enough for a maximum speed of more than 140 km/h (90 mph).

Thanks to the near instant response from its 80kW electric motor, Nissan LEAF offers startling performance from a standstill. Nissan LEAF also delivers near roll free cornering with excellent ride comfort.

A full charge delivers a potential range of 160 kms or 100 miles (US-LA 4 mode) which will satisfy the daily driving demands of most customers. Global research indicates that the average daily mileage for 80 percent of the world's population is under 100 kms: the figure in the UK is under 50 kms for 80 percent of the population.

Although ‘range anxiety' may be an area of concern for people who regularly cover more than 160 kms a day, "that will change as battery technology advances still further and the recharging network expands," Loing said. "In the meantime, the current range capability of Nissan LEAF covers 80% of the European commuting trips on weekdays and 60% of commuting trips on weekends," he said.

"One of our jobs is to prove to every potential customer that the present range is adequate for their needs and to make them understand that the genuine benefits of EV travel more than outweigh the perceived problem."

The electric motor is ‘fuelled' by a Nissan developed laminated lithium-ion battery with a power output of more than 90 kW. The 48 module battery is mounted under the seats and floor of Nissan LEAF. Regenerative energy reclaimed under braking and coasting is fed directly to the battery to ensure a minimum waste of energy.

The lithium-ion battery is perhaps the single biggest advance in EV technology in recent years and is largely responsible for making a purpose designed EV a production reality. It has a number of significant benefits over lead-acid and nickel metal hydride technology:

It has twice the energy density to double an EV's cruising distance under comparable conditions.
It's lighter and more compact than a conventional battery so takes up less space, while its thinner laminated structure allows greater layout flexibility and better temperature control.
It lasts longer and is easier to recycle at the end of its life

Nissan has been developing the lithium-ion battery for EVs since 1992. The main focus was to reduce the size of the battery while simultaneously increasing power and capacity. In April 2007, Nissan established the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC) in partnership with NEC Corporation and NEC Tokin Corporation to start mass production.

Since then more than €80 million have been invested in AESC with mass production starting in 2009. The production facility in Japan currently has an annual capacity of 65,000 units. The Smyrna battery plant in the US will have a capacity of 200,000 units per year when it becomes fully operational, while the Sunderland plant will have a capacity of 60,000 units and the CACIA plant in Portugal a capacity of 50,000 units. Renault's Flins plant will have a capacity of 100,000 units annually.

Using a DC 50kW quick charger, the battery can be charged to up to 80 percent of its capacity in under 30 minutes. Until quick charging posts are commonplace, however, it is expected that most owners will charge their vehicles either at home or at work using a domestic 220~240V system. A full charge from 0 percent to 100 percent under these circumstances takes about eight hours. The recharging socket for normal charging and quick charging is conveniently placed on Nissan LEAF's nose under a ‘fuel filler flap' adorned with the Nissan logo.

The battery will still have between 70-80 percent of its original capacity after ten years use. Nissan is investigating potential uses for the batteries after their useful life in vehicles is over and there are extensive recycling plans in place to ensure precious materials can be reused. Overall, more than 95% of Nissan LEAF can be recycled.

Safety

As well as complying with all applicable vehicle safety standards, Nissan engineers have made certain the electrical side of Nissan LEAF is equally safe. When the charger is not in use, for example, an internal relay shuts off power to the charging port, while the charging port lid is designed to block rain or snow.

Nissan dealers, globally, will be specially trained to handle Nissan LEAF and future Nissan EVs to ensure routine maintenance is carried out in complete safety.

The Nissan LEAF will, of course, be built to meet crash and pedestrian safety standards that are expected from a core C-segment vehicle.

Design

The distinctive exterior styling of Nissan LEAF announces the car as something different yet clearly a Nissan with styling cues influenced by other Nissans - such as the upswept rear side window graphic and the tapering roof line.

Its frontal styling is characterized by a sharp, upright V-shaped design featuring long, vertically slanting light-emitting diode (LED) headlights that employ a blue internal reflective design. But the headlights do more than make a statement. They are also designed to redirect airflow away from the door mirrors, thus reducing wind noise and drag. Indeed, the reduction of drag has been one of the key concerns for the Nissan LEAF's design team: it has a flat under floor, a diffuser and a large rear spoiler while the rear lamps are shaped to fine tune air flow away from the vehicle reducing drag still further. The headlights and taillight provide yet one more benefit in that they consume about 50 percent of the electricity of conventional lamps, which helps Nissan LEAF to achieve its world-class range autonomy.

Practical features include four wide opening doors to ease ingress and egress, while the tailgate - which is framed by highly distinctive tail-lights- extends to bumper level to allow easy access to the large luggage area.

Through bright interior trim colours, Nissan LEAF creates a pleasing and stylish cabin environment. A friendly ‘blue earth' colour theme originates from the Aqua Globe body shade of the introductory model. This theme is carried into the interior through blue dashboard highlights and instrument illumination.

Connected mobility

Nissan LEAF features an advanced connected navigation system. The system connects the Nissan LEAF to a global data centre, your personal web portal and your mobile phone to create a comprehensive suite of services aimed at reducing range anxiety and offering Nissan LEAF owners tools to extend the driving range.

The large in-vehicle monitor displays Nissan LEAF's remaining range. The communication system will recommend charging spots if you enter a route that is longer than your remaining range or if your remaining range becomes low. Since, the network of public charging stations will be expanding rapidly, you can make an on-the-go real-time request for the most up-to-date list of public charging spots in your immediate area.

You will be able to pre-program a timer to recharge batteries at night when electricity costs are at their lowest levels. You can even pre-program the Nissan LEAF to pre-condition the air temperature in the car while you are still plugged in to the network before you depart in the morning. This will enable you to enjoy the pre-conditioned air, while preserving battery power for additional driving range.

When you are out and about you can use your mobile phone to communicate with your Nissan LEAF. With a few clicks, you can send your Nissan LEAF a request to pre-condition the air temperature while the car is plugged into the network. You can also remotely check battery level or ask the vehicle to send you a message when charging has completed.

"The connected navigation system is a modern tool that will become a natural part of the Nissan LEAF owner experience," says Tooru Abe, Chief Product Specialist. "We wanted this vehicle to be a partner for the driver. We also want Nissan LEAF to help create a zero-emission community, and Nissan LEAF's connected navigation system will help make it possible."

The future

Nissan LEAF is just the start of the Alliance's electric future. Renault will be launching its first pure EV later in 2011, while Nissan has other models currently under development. At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the company showed a unique and innovative EV concept called Land Glider. The narrow two-seater capable of leaning into a corner like a motorcycle gives some clues to at least one of the EVs in Nissan future. Nissan has also announced plans for an electric light commercial vehicle based on NV200, as well as an Infiniti EV.

Nissan is implementing its zero-emission vision through a holistic approach, which provides consumers with a comprehensive range of eco-friendly technologies from which to choose.

At the same time, the Alliance is reaching out to develop new partnerships with countries, local governments and other sectors to focus on three areas that will expedite the transition to Zero Emission mobility:

Development of a comprehensive charging infrastructure through public and private investment. This will eventually include charging stations at Nissan dealerships world-wide
Incentives and subsidies from local, regional and national governments
Public education on the benefits of zero-emissions mobility to individuals and society as a whole

For some consumers, Nissan LEAF will be the only car they will ever need. For others, Nissan LEAF will be a logical addition to the family fleet - the optimum choice for the daily commute, for example.

While Nissan LEAF is a critical first step in establishing the era of zero-emission mobility, Nissan recognises that internal-combustion engine (ICE) technologies will play a vital role in global transportation for decades to come. And the company is committed to ongoing innovation in eco-friendly technologies that increase efficiency and reduce emissions. Nissan's low-emission Pure Drive vehicle range features CVT, Idle Stop, HEV, Clean Diesel, improved aerodynamics, light weight materials and low rolling resistance tires.

"The world is embarking down a new road with the advent, at last, of a serious, purpose-design EV. We're all heading down Electric Avenue... and Nissan is leading the charge," said Loing.