Nissan Leaf: All-Electric Car Coming in 2010
Nissan, of course, won’t say what affordable means except for “the company expects the car to be competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle.” The Sentra is Nissan’s top-of-the-line C-segment car, and its highest trim starts at $19,660. The only all-electric vehicle with any kind of price tag from an established automaker is Mini’s E, which is still a test case with a lease payment of nearly $900 a month.
What about the technology? Nissan says the Leaf will have quick-charge ability that will allow its batteries to be refilled to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes. That’s a major feat for the burgeoning segment. A full charge through a household 200-volt outlet will take eight hours.
The 100-mile range is equal to what the Mini E gets, and one tester has already complained about “range anxiety.” The electric motor is good for an equivalent of 107 hp or about the same power as a Hyundai Accent. It also has some radical looks that to us could clearly be considered a futuristic Nissan Versa.
There are many more photos below. Nissan is saying what you see here is not a concept or even a far-out prototype, but a very near production vehicle.
