If the 200 km-plus real-world driving range of the new Leaf seems too short, a solution is on the way. Nissan execs confirm a big-battery e-Plus version, with extra power, will go into production soon. Its 60 kWh battery pack stores 50 percent more energy, and will increase driving range by a similar amount. Lithium-ion batteries are expensive, so the long-range Leaf will be more costly.
EVs account for 26 percent of new car sales but only 6 percent of the 2.7 million cars on the road are electric. And even if Norway hits its goal of 100 percent of new passenger vehicle sales being electric or zero emission by 2025, some 40 percent of cars still going six years beyond that will still use internal combustion.
Nissan Leaf
Safety: 5 stars, 6 airbags
Engine: Synchronous electric motor, 110 kW/320 Nm
Fuel consumption: None
0-100 km/h: 7.9 secs
EV’s are here to stay and the Norwegian model owes the popularity of the Leaf to governmental legislation. The same could happen here if our new government (next year) hears about the positive effects on the national bottom line.
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