As of today, the Nissan leaf is the most widely sold and successful EV in the world. Globally, Nissan has sold over 200,000 leafs since its launch in December 2010.
What is the LEAF:-
LEAF stands for ?leading environmentally-friendly affordable family car? . it is a sub compact 5 door hatchback with a front mounted 120hp synchronous electric motor driving the wheel . it is juiced by a 24kWH battery ( li ion ) . mind you, this is not a HYBRID rather an EV . Batteries have to be recharged
Top speed is around a 100 miles per hour
How far does it go on a full charge :-
Advertised /sales figure from Nissan for the 2011/2012 model is 170km . in real life under varying loads and driving configurations, leaf owners have reported as low as 100km to sometimes 180+ .
Nissan tested the Leaf under several scenarios to estimate real-world range figures, and obtained a worst-case scenario of 76 km (47 miles) and a best-case scenario of 222 km (138 miles).
For 2016 model, Nissan installed a larger 30kwh battery which gives an additional 40 ~50 km range
How does it charge/how long does it take:-
Leaf can be charged from a variety of receptacles and ports
Leaf, with the SL option, has two charging receptacles: a standard SAE J1772 connector for level 1 and 2 charging (120/220 volts AC)] and a JARI high-voltage DC connector designed by TEPCO for DC fast charging (500 volts DC 125 amps)] using the CHAdeMOprotocol
Models with an on-board 3.6 kW charger can be fully recharged from empty in 8 hours from a 220/240-volt 30 amp supply (5.2 kW allowable draw) that can provide the on-board charger its full 3.6 kW of usable power.[92][93] Models with an on-board 6.6 kW charger can be fully recharged from empty in 4 hours from a 220/240-volt 40 amp supply (7.7 kW allowable draw) that can provide the on-board charger its full 6.6 kW of usable power. A third option is to use the supplied EVSE cable from a standard 220/240V AC outlet, taking around 12 hours for a full recharge drawing 10A.( this the receptacle we commonly have in Pakistan,but rated at 15 -30A so I reckon a charging time of 5 hrs )
Im in my bedroom , how do I know the charging status of my leaf:-
Leaf users can download an app on their phones which will tell the charging status. Everything works on smartphones now.relax
Can I substitute the leaf for my crappy cultus :-
By all means, YES .
the leaf is ideal for city /urban driving . on a full charge , the 2016 model can easily manage 140 km . daily commute is certainly much less than that . No noise NO more fuel costs, no more engine belt squeking, no more problems. It is an android phone on 4 wheels. Zero emissions, no pollution. Save the planet
Reliable ? :- battery issues ? electric issues?
More than 200,000 leafs have been sold globally. Battery failures are extremely rare .
Some vehicles have already covered more than 200,000 km with no battery problems. In April 2016, Nissan estimated that fewer than 5 batteries are replaced per year worldwide; about 0.012% of all Leafs since introduction
The battery pack is expected to retain 70% to 80% of its capacity after 10 years but its actual lifespan depends on how often DC fast charging (480 volts DC) is used and also on driving patterns and environmental factors.[3 Nissan said the battery will lose capacity gradually over time but it expects a lifespan of over 10 years under normal use.
I want the leaf, where to buy , how much $? :-
Leafs are available in Japanese auctions for around 1 million YEN for a good clean 4 grade car . Currently, there is no import regulation meaning this is a 0cc car and custom officials do not know how to tax it . import at your own risk. Can be stuck at Karachi port
What now :-
EVs are the future, a study by Nissan estimated that by 2020 , 3 percent of all cars sold globally will be EVs . by 2025 , more than 10-15 percent . Tokyo , london, barca , LA have started installing public charging ports . Germany is giving subsidies(!) to people buying EVs.
Advancements in battery tech will dramatically increase range and reduce charging times and make these cars ideal for even long commutes . for the moment, use a leaf for Lahore driving and have your crappy cultus ready in case you forget to charge your leaf . good bye Internal combustion engine,
any other EV's?
chevy VOLT, tesla 3 , and Mitsubishi electric .