The 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack for the Nissan Leaf, which was unveiled in late 2010 in Japan and the US and is based on polymer cells, is manufactured by Automotive Energy Storage Corporation. The Leaf is categorized as a BEV since it lacks a combustion engine and relies only on the energy stored in its Li-ion battery for propulsion.
There is currently no active temperature management system in the battery system of the Leaf. But because the modules that house the cells are constructed of aluminum, they can serve as heat sinks inside the battery and so inadvertently remove heat from the cells.
The battery pack, which is installed underneath the car and can be seen in Figure 7.4, fits beneath the driver’s and passenger’s seats. The pack is installed squarely in the centre of the vehicle, which results in a low center of gravity. To prevent foreign material, such as liquid or dust, from getting inside the pack, the pack must also be sealed in accordance with IP69 requirements.
The Leaf’s range is estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), based on the US drive cycle, to be about 73 miles, with an energy consumption of roughly 34 kWh every 100 miles. The Leaf’s fuel efficiency was likewise rated by the EPA at 99 MPGe (miles per gallon electric equivalent).
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Subaru Leaf
Nissan produces the Nissan Leaf, a small five-door hatchback battery electric vehicle (BEV) (Japanese: Ri Chan rihu, Hepburn: Nissan Rifu). It was launched in Japan and the US in December 2010, and as of October 2017, it is in its second generation. The Leaf’s range on a full charge has gradually risen thanks to the adoption of a larger battery pack and a number of small upgrades, going from 117 km (73 miles) to 364 km (226 miles) (EPA certified).
The Leaf has received numerous honors over the years, including the 2010 Green Car Vision Award, 2011 European Car of the Year, 2011 World Car of the Year, and 2011-2012 Car of the Year Japan. By February 2022, there had been 577,000 Leafs sold worldwide. More than 208,000 units have been sold in Europe as of September 2021[update], while as of December 2021[update], over 165,000 units had been sold in the United States and 157,000 in Japan. Through December 2019, the Leaf was the plug-in electric vehicle with the highest global sales. Early in 2020, the Tesla Model 3 overtook the Leaf to become the electric vehicle with the highest lifetime sales.
Nissan LEAF at the moment (ZE1 2nd Generation)
For the 2018 model year, the Nissan Leaf’s new generation made its debut in 2017. It retained front-wheel drive and had the same small, five-door hatchback design as its predecessor.
A 148 horsepower synchronous electric motor with a single-speed transmission powers the base models of the Leaf. A 40 kWh lithium-ion battery pack with a claimed EPA range of 151 miles was the battery’s current configuration.
Nissan completely redesigned this second version, doing away with the rounded look of the previous model in favor of sharper lines and a lower roof profile.
Additionally, Nissan’s ProPilot system is an option on this Leaf. It is a driver-assist technology that keeps the car in its lane and uses adaptive cruise control to maintain a predetermined distance from the car in front of it without the driver’s intervention. For a much easier driving experience, the system will automatically brake in response to the car in front starting to do so. If necessary, it will even come to a complete stop.
The e-Pedal is another driver-assist function that slows the car down by applying regenerative braking force when the driver releases the gas pedal. This enables the driver to virtually drive around town on one foot.
Auto emergency braking, lane-departure warning, blind-spot detection, and a 360-degree surround-view camera are further optional technologies.
Nissan unveiled the Leaf Plus in 2020. With a larger 62 kWh battery, faster charging, and a more potent electric motor that increased output to 214 horsepower, this model was able to go 226 miles according to the EPA.
Along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Leaf Plus added an updated eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The S model, which remained the entry-level grade, came equipped with a five-inch touchscreen screen, Bluetooth, cruise control, an adjustable driver’s seat, climate control, and an e-Pedal with hill-hold.
The SV comes with additional features like GPS, 17-inch wheels, a larger, seven-inch touchscreen screen, connectivity with Android and iOS, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a six-speaker audio system.
The top-tier SL trim comes with heated front seats, leather upholstery, a Bose seven-speaker audio system, and a portable charging cord.
However, new Nissan LEAFs for the 2022 model year come with a CHAdeMO rapid charging connector for fast charging at charger stations that provide that connectivity. The LEAF was unchanged in 2021. The ProPilot Assist semi-autonomous driving mode, which is also an option on the SV and SL trim levels if you choose the Technology package, is standard on the SV Plus trim level.
Additional standard safety features for the 2022 LEAF include automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring.
Earlier times and updates
Prior to going on sale in Europe and Canada in 2011, the Nissan Leaf started selling in Japan and the United States in December 2010. The Leaf was a trailblazer and swiftly rose to become the most popular all-electric vehicle worldwide. At first, Nissan’s Oppama, Japan, factory produced all of the models that were offered in America. But in January 2013, the Smyrna, Tennessee, manufacturing facility took over the production of the Leaf for commercial usage.
The 80 kW motor of the Leaf’s initial iteration was 110 horsepower-capable. Although the EPA indicated that its normal maximum range was closer to 73 miles, its entire range was initially anticipated to be closer to 100 miles. In 2017, the Nissan Leaf’s second and current version was introduced (for the 2018 model year). A longer range, more power, and cutting-edge technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were among the notable changes.
A look at the famed electric car from Nissan’s lineup’s design, range, technology, and safety features.
The Nissan LEAF was an entry-level, totally electric hatchback for drivers aiming to transition away from fossil fuels when it was introduced to the market in 2010. Due to its endurance and enduring popularity, the LEAF, now in its second generation, has become somewhat of an institution in the world of electric vehicles. The vehicle recently celebrated its tenth anniversary in the UK by surpassing 40,000 sales (achieved at the end of November 2020), securing its place as the nation’s top-selling electric vehicle to that point.
Why is the Nissan LEAF such an appealing option for people considering going electric? We examine some of the vehicle’s standout attributes to learn everything there is to know about Nissan’s renowned EV.
Nissan debuted the Leaf when?
Nissan is commemorating ten years of the LEAF, the first mass-market electric vehicle in the world (EV). In December 2010, the ground-breaking LEAF went on sale. It was initially marketed in Japan, Europe, and America, and is today used in 59 markets. More than 500,000 LEAF electric cars have been purchased by customers worldwide.
What caused Nissan to stop making the Leaf?
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.
Where are Nissan Leaf vehicles made?
On Thursday, President Biden promised stronger pollution regulations and an increase in electric vehicles in the near future. He couched both announcements in terms of additional manufacturing employment and the laser-like focus on made-in-America that has been a trademark of his.
The same day, Jen Psaki, the press secretary for the White House, provided an explanation: the United Auto Workers.
According to MarketWatch, Psaki told reporters, “Today, the United Auto Workers’ three largest employers and the UAW president will stand with President Biden.”
By 2030, Biden set a combined goal of 50% electric vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell types. The UAW, the executives of the American “Big Three” (GM, Ford, and Chrysler), and automaker executives surrounded him as they declared a “common aim” to achieve 40% EVs by that time.
The third largest manufacturer with its headquarters in the United States, however, was completely excluded from the event since Stellantis, the parent company of Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram, has its headquarters in the Netherlands. Tesla wasn’t invited, as CEO Elon Musk emphasized and as we mentioned in our initial article that day.
In addition to producing more EVs in the United States than any other automaker, Tesla also exports the most EVs. None of them, however, have employed UAW employees.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV is the only completely electric vehicle model family that currently satisfies the requirements for American-made and UAW labor. That information is boldly displayed on a 2022 Chevy Bolt EV in the sticker above. GM produces those automobiles at its Orion Assembly facility in Lake Orion, Michigan.
I think that’s enough for now. Mexican workers in unions produce the Mustang Mach-E. Non-union workers in Tennessee produce the Nissan Leaf. The Volkswagen ID.4 is also built by unions in Germany, but starting in 2019, it will also likely be made by non-union workers in Tennessee.
Then there is Tesla, which has occasionally spoken out against unionization efforts at its Fremont plant, which was unionized while it was under the prior administration of GM and Toyota (NUMMI). Tesla was ordered to have Elon Musk remove a tweet that company labor organizers viewed as threatening after the National Labor Relations Board found Tesla in violation of federal labor regulations for an incident that occurred in 2018.
That most likely had something to do with the corporation being excluded from a ceremony that focused on the union.
Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan is pushing for an expansion of the electric vehicle tax credit, which is reportedly supported by President Biden. It would eliminate the current limit of 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer and add an additional $2,500 credit for vehicles made in the United States as well as $2,500 for models made by unions, for a total credit of up to $12,500 for both.
The UAW is developing American-made electric vehicles. Among them, the Cadillac Lyriq (and probably a future Acura model) are to be UAW-built in Tennessee, while the Ford F-150 Lightning, GMC Hummer EV, and Chevrolet Silverado are all planned to be UAW-built in Michigan. Although Jeep doesn’t yet produce a fully electric version, Ohio is where the Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid is made.
Hyundai, Kia, and Volvo are among the automakers that also want to develop electric vehicles in the United States, though probably not using UAW workers.