Driving tomorrow

When the Leaf hits dealers here in less than 18 months’ time, it will look very different. An all-new platform allows the car’s lithium-ion batteries to be mounted under the rear seats, so there’s no impact on cabin space. Up front is an electric motor that delivers 108bhp and 280Nm of torque to the front wheels.

Range is limited to 100 miles (160 km) and a full recharge takes eight hours from a normal mains socket. With a 400V supply, the car can be powered up to 80% of its capacity in only half-an-hour.

As its charging system is in constant contact with a central computer, owners get a text message when the car is topped up – and if they have an Apple iPhone, they can start or stop the process remotely. Jump inside, select drive from the switch on the centre console and you’re met with silence. But all that torque is available from zero rpm, so acceleration is impressive – Nissan claims 0-60mph (95 km/h) in around 10 seconds. And although response tails off a little at speed, our model was happy to cruise at 70mph (110 km/h). Around bends it handles safely, while strong brakes stop it fast. It all adds up to a family car that’s ideal for short journeys – Nissan says 90% of drivers do less than 35 miles (50 km) a day.

The problem is the lack of a charging infrastructure to give owners the same freedom as those of conventional cars. Nissan and Renault are in talks with 30 governments, including Britain’s, to ensure this changes within the next few years.

Source : AutoExpress, by Sam Hardy, October 28th, 2009