The little electric car from Nissan will be discontinued “before mid-decade,” according to trade publication Automotive News on Thursday.
Why it matters: Early models like the Leaf failed to gain traction, despite the fact that electric vehicles are largely seen as the future of the auto industry (hello Tesla).
Rewind: The Leaf soon overtook all other EVs after making its debut in 2011.
- However, it quickly lost the top spot to Tesla and fell short of Carlos Ghosn’s goal of selling 500,000 vehicles annually by 2013.
- Of the 977,639 automobiles Nissan sold in the U.S. in 2021, just 14,239 copies of the Leaf were sold there.
Zoom out: The Leaf’s problems were caused by its short battery life and small size, with the 2011 model’s first iteration covering only 73 miles on a single charge.
- The Leaf was victimized by shifting consumer demand for SUVs and pickups in the late 2010s as gas prices plummeted.
- The range increased over time, but Nissan has subsequently focused mostly on upcoming EVs, such as the stylish Ariya crossover.
The Leaf is currently blowing in the wind, but EVs are far from being extinct.
In This Article...
Will the Nissan Leaf be phased out?
The Nissan Leaf is to blame for the existence of all electric automobiles today. With the release of the Leaf in 2010, Nissan was one of the first automakers to produce an affordable electric vehicle. Nissan was among the first automakers to release an electric vehicle, but it hasn’t done enough to keep the Leaf competitive in the shifting automotive market. We are therefore not shocked to learn that the Leaf might be eliminated.
Nissan reportedly plans to gradually phase out the Leaf over the coming years in order to focus on introducing more cutting-edge EVs to the market, according to a recent report from Automotive News. By the middle of the decade, Leaf production will be finished. The story was confirmed to the outlet by unnamed sources.
Although the sources did not specify what car would replace the Leaf, Automotive News thinks there is a good chance Nissan would introduce a coupe-like crossover. The outlet speculates that the car might be based on Nissan’s Chill-Out concept from last year, although this is only a suggestion. The replacement for the Leaf will be “better tuned to the needs of the modern EV buyer,” according to all available sources.
Nissan just updated the Leaf for 2023, but it doesn’t go nearly far enough to improve the car’s ability to compete in the market.
With a revamped lineup and new exterior appearance, the Leaf debuts for the 2018 model year. The 40-kWh battery pack and a single electric motor with 147 horsepower remain standard for the electric hatchback. With a 214-hp motor and a 62-kWh battery pack, the SV Plus trim is equipped. The Leaf’s maximum range is 215 miles, compared to quite a few competitors who are solidly in the 260-mile area.
Nissan lost out on the chance to dominate the market for all-electric vehicles. While Chevrolet, Kia, Hyundai, and Ford have been working hard to release new models with greater range, more technology, and better performance. Not to mention Tesla’s phenomenal rise to become the most well-known EV brand in the United States. Nissan introduced the Leaf first, but failed to provide the EV with the necessary improvements to keep it at the top of the sales charts. Nissan doesn’t appear to have room for the Leaf in its lineup with the Ariya due to launch.
The Nissan Leaf is being replaced by what?
The Nissan Leaf as we know it will soon be replaced by a brand-new crossover SUV after more than ten years on the market. The popular electric hatchback’s replacement will be equipped with the same technology as the company’s just-released Ariya electric SUV, and we’ve even had a sneak peek at how it will look.
The 2021 Nissan Chill Out concept car (shown above) is thought to be the design inspiration for the Leaf replacement. It has a roofline resembling a coupe, a slightly higher ride height, and a steeply angled tailgate comparable to the most recent Nissan Z sports vehicle. The production model, however, is also anticipated to include some Ariya-inspired design cues.
Does the Leaf still get made?
According to a story from Automotive News on Thursday, the Nissan Leaf, the first mass-market EV from a significant automaker, will cease production by the middle of the next decade. Along with the Tesla Model S, the vehicle, which has been in production since 2010, was among the first electric vehicles to hit the market. The Leaf will be replaced with a car that is “better tailored to the needs of the modern EV buyer,” according to the AN story, which cites anonymous sources. Nissan declined to comment on the news to AN or make any predictions about what would happen to the Leaf, but it did leave the door open to the idea that it might come back as a result of “renewed enthusiasm” in the availability of EVs.
The Leaf is currently in the second generation, which debuted in 2018. Its initial iteration originally appeared on the market before the electrification trend had really taken off. It has regularly been one of the most affordable electric vehicles available for purchase in the United States, if not the most affordable. However, due to its old air-cooled battery, its already restricted range—226 miles in its longest-legged specto—can fluctuate a lot.
By the end of the decade, the Japanese manufacturer intends to introduce 15 new electric vehicles. The Ariya is the only other electric vehicle Nissan currently has scheduled in the popular crossover sector. The fact that the Leaf is a hatchback is likely a contributing factor to its limited time. For instance, Chevy took care to offer a raised EUV version of the hatch when it revealed its revised Bolt in order to satisfy this market trend. An unnamed former Nissan executive told AN that company didn’t have the resources to invest in the Leaf platform to enable such a thing to happen: You couldn’t say, “Hey, I need another billion bucks to upgrade the Leaf,” with a straight face.
Nissan has been contacted by us in an effort to learn more, but we have not yet received a response.
Are tax credits available for the Nissan Leaf?
The tax credit varies depending on the size and battery capacity of your electric car and is available both at the state and federal levels. The potential federal tax credit for Nissan LEAF is $7,500. Will the electric vehicle tax credits expire? Yes.
How long does a Nissan Leaf battery last?
Depending on where you are and what you do, you’ll receive a specific timeline for your car. Extreme heat, frequent recharging (such as twice or three times a day), and city driving all hasten the battery’s depletion. The Nissan LEAF was designed to endure as much of these typical battery killers as possible, so you would have to be very rough on your car before you saw a significant change.
The Nissan LEAF was designed to travel up to 107 miles a day on a highway without recharging (depending on the model you choose.) You may travel up to 90 miles in even the busiest metropolitan traffic without having to worry about running out of juice. The battery will eventually lose power, but the amount of mileage you obtain will steadily decrease. The erosion will probably only have a minimal impact on you because the ordinary American will travel significantly less than the daily maximums. When you take care of your car, the Nissan LEAF battery should last between 8 and 10 years.
How much does a Nissan Leaf battery replacement cost?
Additionally, we created a comprehensive LEAF battery replacement tutorial. Although it has some of the same information, going a little deeper might be beneficial.
- The Nissan Leaf 40 kWh battery costs $5,500, or roughly $137/kWh, which is right in line with the average pricing for 2020, according to a 2020 Greencars assessment.
- Price for a 40 kWh pack was at most $187.5/kWh and varied between $6,500 and $7,500.
- Price for a 30 kWh pack is at most $150/kWh and ranges from $3,500 to $4,500.
- It is anticipated that a 62 kWh battery pack will cost between $8,500 and $9,500, or at most $153/kWh.
- A dealership in Canada reportedly gave a 2013 Nissan Leaf owner a quotation for a replacement battery of $15,000 CAD.
- Buyers of cash cars recorded in September 2020
How frequently should a Nissan Leaf battery be changed?
How frequently should a Nissan Leaf battery be changed? Every three to five years, however, you should have a battery test performed to check for voltage decreases and ensure that it is still performing at a high level.
The longest-range Nissan Leaf model: which one?
The Nissan Leaf with the greatest range is? The model with the greatest range is the Nissan Leaf S Plus, which can travel about 226 miles on a single charge. Nissan Leaf SV Plus and Nissan Leaf SL Plus are in second place with 215 miles.
Why is the Nissan LEAF priced so low?
You are correct that switching to an electric vehicle is thrilling.
Compared to other electric vehicles, the Nissan Leaf is significantly less expensive. Why, you inquire? Even though they are generally good automobiles, the Nissan Leaf doesn’t have the best reputation. Low battery range, depreciation, government incentives, outmoded technology, and a lackluster design are some of the factors that contribute to the Leaf’s low pricing.
- Government subsidies: Depending on the state you live in, there are a number of government subsidies and incentives available when buying a Leaf. These benefits lower the cost of purchasing the Leaf and enable quicker loan repayment.
- The Leaf may be inexpensive to purchase, but its technology hasn’t advanced much since it initially rolled off the assembly line in 2010, especially in comparison to the technological arms race being fought by other electric car manufacturers.
- Low battery range: The battery range on a new Leaf is just 80 to 100 miles per charge, and on a used Leaf, this decreases to about 50 miles per charge. Although the Leaf’s battery is less expensive to produce, its modest size means that it has significantly less power than competing electric cars.
- Depreciation: The Leaf depreciates less frequently than the majority of other electric vehicles, which means it does so more slowly than more expensive vehicles. For instance, a Tesla typically depreciates by 20% over the first year of ownership.
- Design: The Leaf isn’t a bad-looking car, but it isn’t sweeping up design accolades either. This may have contributed to the models’ poor sales and the subsequent price reductions.
Depending on your financial situation, a Nissan Leaf can be the ideal vehicle for you. Whatever you decide, make sure to use Jerry to find a strong auto insurance policy to cover your car.
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