According to the Nissan stats, Nissan has sold more than 300,000 Leafs globally, but that is from day 1 of offering the Leaf. Yet you will be lucky to see one in Thailand, and it boils down to finances. It makes sense for the Nissan UK plant to keep shipping to nearby Norway, where EV embracing customers are queuing up, before shifting focus to other countries where demand is negligible.
This demand hasn’t happened by chance. For years Norway has encouraged its citizens to choose EVs, with policies that make them price-competitive.
Normal cars were always heavily taxed in Norway and they still are, but EV buyers sidestep substantial taxes based on CO2 emissions, introduced in 2006, and weight, plus a hefty 25 percent GST.
Norwegian EV buyers get other benefits, such as not paying annual road taxes while also getting free use or heavy discounts on toll roads, ferry and parking station fees and the right to legally use bus lanes.
“The politicians didn’t do this to be nice to EV owners,” says Marina Maneas Bakkum, Nissan Nordic Europe communications director. “They have signed international agreements on CO2 emission reductions. They have found out that this is actually the easiest and cheapest way to get it, to take if from the transport sector.” Pro-EV policies, she says, are supported by all the parties in Norway’s parliament.
Current reviews of the Leaf in Norway are all very positive, with a claimed range of 270 km and can achieve an 85 percent charge in about 45 minutes.
The new Leaf is better looking and more powerful. It’s quick, quiet and very smooth, partly because the Nissan never needs to change gears. It has only one.
Its new 40 kWh battery pack (the first Leaf launched with a 24 kWh pack, later upgraded to 30 kWh) delivers a longer driving range between recharges; 270 km according to the latest and more realistic energy consumption test.
The Leaf is also surprising fun to drive, especially in e-Pedal mode. Selecting this boosts the strength of the car’s battery-filling regenerative braking. Ease right off the accelerator pedal and the Leaf slows significantly. This makes driving in stop-start traffic easier than a normal car. And e-Pedal also works really well on winding country roads.
Recharging? Plug the fast-charger cable into the second socket in the Leaf’s nose and it takes 45 minutes to get to 85 percent charged.
Most of the 1500 or so DC fast chargers in Norway are 50 kW but faster 150 kW examples are being installed in some locations.
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