Gas prices steadily increase in the summer months and given the skyrocketing costs of fuel heading into this summer, Bay Staters may find the idea of cruising the open road in an eco-friendly, gas-free set of wheels quite appealing.
The 2011 Nissan’s Leaf, a 100-percent zero emission, all-electric car gives its gas-guzzling counterparts a ride for their money. With superb handling and driving performance, the Leaf was recently named World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show, edging out the BMW-5 Series and Audio A8.
With seating for five, the five-door hatchback, which sits somewhere between Nissan’s Altima and its Versa in terms of interior space, has a sleek and elegant form and can cover more than 100 miles on a full charge (according to Edmunds Inc. the Leaf gets 106 city/highway miles per gallon).
It take about eight hours to recharge the 220-240V power supply, but 30 minutes is all it takes to get back 80 percent of the power. Long-term, Nissan, with its partner, Renault, hope to team up with more governments and organizations globally to promote sustainable mobility, including ion battery-charging services.
The Leaf’s standard SV model includes a six-way manual driver’s seat, four-way manual front passenger’s seat (all of the seat fabric is partially made from recycled materials), a trip computer—which displays instant and average energy consumption, driving time, outside temperature and autonomy range—automatic temperature control, center console storage and an electric parking brake. Other standard features include an AM/FM/CD with MP3/WMA CD-ROM playback capability and six speakers, auxiliary input jack and USB Connection Port for iPod® and other compatible devices.
The Leaf, which comes with an MSRP of $33,720 for the 2011 SL model and $32,780 for the 2011 SV model, is also equipped with Nissan Intelligent Key™ with Push Button Start, power windows with driver’s window one-touch auto up/down, power door locks with auto locking feature and remote charge door release.
The SL model includes a photovoltaic spoiler panel spoiler, fog lights, auto on/off headlights, cargo cover, HomeLink® Universal Transceiver and RearView Monitor.
The Leaf runs on a 24 kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery, which is comprised of 48 compact modules of four cells each. The battery powers a high-response 80kW AC synchronous motor, rated at 107 horsepower and 207 lb-ft of torque. The motor differs from an internal combustion engine in that it brings 100 percent of its torque from the start; something Nissan says provides for a smooth, consistent acceleration that mimics that of a V6 engine.
Touted by Nissan as the first affordable mass-market, all-electric vehicle for the global market, the Leaf was also named European Car of the Year for 2011.
Why Go Electric?
According to the U.S. Energy Administration, motorists that operate electric vehicles are projected to see a cost-per-mile savings of 20 to 30 percent (based on 15,000 miles, $3/gallon fuel and $0.11 kWh for electricity for similarly sized vehicles). Additionally, motorists that purchase eco-friendly vehicles may reap additional savings because they may be eligible for a federal tax credit of $2,500 up to $7,500, depending on the battery capacity of the vehicle they purchase.
By Laura Starczewski
