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 vehicles have been purchased by customers worldwide. The Nissan LEAF, which was little yet packed a lot of innovation, set the groundwork for today’s electric cars.
In This Article...
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.
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.
Nissan Leaf concept
The original Nissan Leaf’s design, which combined Nissan design characteristics with proportions determined by its EV engine, caused controversy when it was introduced in 2011. The former was the Juke-style headlamps perched above a short bonnet, and the latter required the Leaf to be built taller than other hatchbacks like the Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf due to the underfloor battery.
Nissan also gave the Leaf unique appearance with characteristics like a smooth nose – electric motors don’t need air from a huge front grille – and space-age elongated tail lights in an effort to copy the distinctive Toyota Prius, which managed to take the hybrid market by storm.
The second-generation Leaf doesn’t make a big effort to stand out; instead, it appears to fit in better with the rest of Nissan’s lineup. It has been recognized that owners of electric cars may not necessarily wish to stand out from the crowd, therefore horizontal headlights, a more pronounced bonnet, and even a faux-grille are hints in that direction. The Leaf appears lower to the ground than it actually is because to cunning techniques like a dark roof and hatchback.
In ten years, Nissan has produced more than 500,000 Leaf electric vehicles.
Nissan has stated that it has produced more than 500,000 Leaf electric vehicles since the model’s introduction, which was almost ten years ago.
The historic Leaf was created in Sunderland, England, at the automaker’s factory in August, but Nissan waited to make the announcement until Wednesday to coincide with World EV Day.
In a statement, Jansen said, “My husband and I decided to purchase a Nissan Leaf back in 2018 and we liked it. “Being the proud owners of the 500,000th Nissan Leaf makes us very happy. This car’s increased range and advanced technology really match our needs.”
In December 2010, Nissan introduced the first-generation Leaf, which became the first mass-market all-electric vehicle to go on sale. For the 2018 model year, the second-generation Leaf was unveiled.
The fact that Nissan has sold 500,000 electric vehicles is an impressive accomplishment, but it has taken far longer than Nissan had anticipated. It’s not the first electric vehicle to reach that point though; the Tesla Model 3 did so earlier this year.
Nissan had planned to build 500,000 electric vehicles by 2012, including the Leaf and other vehicles that make use of their complementary AESC battery technology. It would have been significantly higher if Chinese sales were included.
The development of other electric vehicles has been sluggish. In some areas, Nissan sells the electric e-NV200 van, while the company intends to introduce the Ariya crossover in 2022. Additionally, an EV for Nissan’s upscale Infiniti brand is anticipated.
However, it’s just been a little over a year and a half since the Leaf passed 400,000 sales, which is a credit to the model’s thorough update for 2018. Some of the Leaf’s international markets have seen an increase in sales, including Europe, where it was the best-selling EV for the entire year of 2018.
However, the Tesla Model 3 has consistently led EV sales in the US and other countries.
Meanwhile, Tennessee has become one of the hubs for EV manufacture in the United States thanks to Nissan’s Smyrna plant. In 2022, Volkswagen intends to start producing the ID.4 at its Chattanooga facility.
Not to be overlooked is the moniker Leaf, which strongly suggests that when we choose an electric vehicle, we are also choosing better air. Putting sales numbers aside, don’t lose sight of it or the change it has sparked.
The Nissan Leaf was released when?
In August 2009, the production version was unveiled. Nissan discontinued accepting reservations in the US after getting 20,000 pre-orders there till the beginning of 2011. Delivery in the US and Japan commenced in December after production in Japan began in October 2010, and deliveries in other regions started in early 2012. The Leaf was available in 59 markets worldwide by December 2020.
From 2011 through 2014 and 2016, the Leaf was the best-selling electric vehicle worldwide. 2015 saw a decline in sales, with the Tesla Model S driving overall sales. The Leaf was the world’s best-selling plug-in electric car as of December 2019 [update]. The Tesla Model 3 overtook the Leaf to become the new best-selling electric vehicle in history by early 2020.
Global Leaf deliveries reached 577,000 vehicles by February 2022. With more than 208,000 units sold as of September 2021[update], Europe is the largest market, with 72 620 of those units registered in Norway, the largest European country market. U.S. sales reached 165,710 units as of December 2021[update], while Japanese sales reached 157,059 units.
The Nissan Leaf was a failure, why?
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 range increased over time, but Nissan has subsequently focused mostly on upcoming EVs, such as the stylish Ariya crossover.
- The Leaf was victimized by shifting consumer demand for SUVs and pickups in the late 2010s as gas prices plummeted.
The Leaf is currently blowing in the wind, but EVs are far from being extinct.
Is Nissan getting rid of the Leaf?
Nissan will end production of its Leaf electric car, which was released as the first mass-market EV in 2010, according to Automotive News. Although the EV’s sales reached a peak of 30,200 in 2014, fewer than 175,000 units have been sold overall since its launch.
By 2030, when EV sales are anticipated to account for 40% of Nissan’s U.S. sales volume, the automaker expects to invest $18 billion in 15 battery-electric models.
Is the Nissan Leaf the pioneer of the electric vehicle?
The Nissan LEAF, the first mass-produced 100% electric vehicle (EV) in the world, has already won numerous accolades in Japan and other countries. Many of our consumers now are aware of its technologies and underlying philosophy, and the car is a force driving the value of the Nissan brand.
What issues does the Nissan Leaf have?
The Nissan Leaf can only be used with specific charging stations because of its design.
Additionally, there have been numerous reports of charging incompatibility problems with Eaton chargers, particularly for the 2018 Leaf.
Is the Nissan Leaf a trustworthy vehicle?
This generation of Leaf received a high score of 98.6% in the reliability survey. Unfortunately, Nissan as a brand no longer enjoys the best reputation for dependability as it lags in 27th place out of 30 manufacturers, despite the fact that this is largely because of its conventional petrol and diesel vehicles.
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
Nissan Leaf: Is it entirely electric?
The new Nissan LEAF is the first reasonably priced, zero-emission vehicle in the world. It has five seats and five doors. The LEAF has a 24kWh lithium-ion battery pack and an 80kW electric motor that allow it to go about 100 miles on a single charge.
Can you go by car with a Nissan LEAF?
It was a long trip—600 miles—with a combination of largely high-speed highway travel, slow work zones, and some city driving.
We tried to extend our range for some of the journey. We chose comfort and speed for the other sections of the trip—the hot, rainy parts. This, in our opinion, represents the effectiveness of a road trip fairly well.
We ended up using 3.4 miles per kilowatt-hour on average. The Nissan Leaf Plus’s effective range after a full charge is 211 miles, with a battery size of 62 kWh. That’s a respectable efficiency that is on par with some of the more efficient EVs now available. Battery capacity dictates range.
The Leaf is a capable vehicle for long trips. It’s relaxing. It moves fairly quickly. Excellent safety technology. It works well. The charge rate on numerous fast chargers is the only thing preventing it from doing really extended road trips.
Although the majority of individuals won’t drive their cars in that manner, that is also not how Americans believe. The Ariya, Nissan’s upcoming fully electric vehicle, is expected to address all of these issues with CCS high-speed charging and smart temperature control. Heck, it might end up being the finest road trip EV if it charges quickly enough — like over 200 kW.
Nissan Ariya’s real-world range may already be known to us, or it may not.