My Perfect Automobile » Leaf

Nissan Leaf is Top IIHS Safety Choice

Larry Bell — Thu, 09 May 2013 23:36:25 +0000

2013 Nissan Leaf

Nissan Motor Co. has achieved the auto safety hat trick, with three of its vehicles netting the prestigious Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) “Top Safety Pick” designation for 2013. The all-electric Nissan Leaf, the Nissan Altima, and the Infiniti M37/M56 all scored high enough on the IIHS crash tests to earn the safety accolade. Infiniti is the luxury division of Nissan. The company’s proprietary “zone body construction,” according to Nissan’s director of product safety, Robert Yakushi, can “…help protect occupants in a wide variety of crash scenarios.”

IIHS Testing: Video

The above video clip provides an intriguing look at exactly how the IIHS tests vehicles and how it creates real-life crash conditions in its facility. The institute’s president walks through the details in the lab, showing how IIHS has come up with a new, more relevant, test for head-on collisions. While the video is fun to watch, keep in mind that this is serious science, and the effort goes a long way toward keeping drivers safer. The IIHS has contributed significantly to the reduction in highway crashes and related injuries.

Nissan Leaf and IIHS

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an Arlington, Va.-based non-profit that came into being in 1959. The organization is funded by car insurance companies and has set as its mission the reduction of vehicle accidents as well as associated injuries and property damage. The IIHS performs testing and publishes safety ratings for all types of motor vehicles and equipment.

The IIHS makes an annual Top Safety Pick, or picks, based upon how well the test vehicles do in a variety of crash simulations. In order to receive the designation, a car must get good marks in a number of challenging crash tests. The institute publishes a complete history of the safety picks on its website.

For more about Nissan and the IIHS, see their official websites below:
http://www.nissanusa.com
http://www.iihs.org

Larry Bell

Larry Bell + is My Perfect Automobile’s Genius Author, but we call him ‘The Expert‘. Here is his full Blog: My Perfect Automobile. Larry lives in San Jose, CA and is also the Expert Author. Larry is a lover of the Automobile as well and shares a passion for Concept, Hybrid and Electric Cars…

New York EV Charging: Mayor’s Announcement

Larry Bell — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:28:52 +0000

New York Charging Spots (Pictured: Ford Focus Electric)

New York City officials have plans to amend building codes in order to vastly expand electric car-charging infrastructure in the Big Apple. One plan features a provision that would require about one-fifth of all new parking spaces to be equipped for EV charging. Before the decade is out, that could add up to as many as 10,000 electrified parking spots in a city that is sometimes ranked among the most hostile parking environments in the world.

EV Charging: Video

One of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City, has been in the midst of an experiment with electric cars for the past year. Various federal and local government agencies sponsored a program to fund a fleet of Nissan Leaf taxis. Drivers and passengers provide feedback to the program’s administrators on a range of topics. The news clip below features an interview with one of the drivers, who seems to love the car and the program. His prediction is that electric cars will catch on as taxis in Mexico because most of the drivers enjoy driving non-polluting cars, appreciate the simple controls of the Leaf, and at least in his case, enjoy the attention from passengers who routinely quiz them about the EV taxi.

NYC Leads the Charge

While New York City officials intend to install about 50 more public charging stations this year, the city boasts 100 stations already, and perhaps as many as a thousand private, corporate locations where EV owners can recharge battery packs. If the building code can be changed, the number of public charging stations could increase along with demand. City officials are expected to fine-tune the plan before formal legislation is written.

For more about one of the newest electric cars on the market, see the official website for the Ford Focus Electric:
http://www.ford.com/electric/focuselectric/2012/

Larry Bell

Nissan Leaf to Offer Energy-Efficient Bose Audio Systems

Larry Bell — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:09:29 +0000

Nissan Leaf’s Bose Audio speaker placement

Nissan Motor Co. has announced that it will offer a new, energy-efficient Bose audio system in its 2013 Leaf electric cars. The system will feature seven speakers and will be available as a premium package option. The amplification has been specially designed to use very little electricity, and each of the audio components is light so as not to add to the car’s overall weight. Taking up less space than comparable systems, the Bose components also run much cooler and use less wattage than systems with equal output. One of Nissan’s competitors, Toyota, also offers an energy-efficient sound system in select models, including its Prius hybrid. Nissan has been making changes to the Leaf in recent months which include various styling modifications as well as a $6,000 price reduction.

Nissan Leaf: Video

With the lower price for 2013 Nissan Leaf cars, the company is adding an optional Bose sound system that happens to be the first energy efficient, high-quality audio system designed specifically for electric cars. As detailed in the informative video clip above, the deal has been in the works for several years, with Nissan wanting high-end sound that is not a major drain on the car’s electric battery. Bose came up with a method by which the lithium-ion pack could sustain a special amplifier for about 50 percent longer than it could a traditional one. With wide-range Bose speakers in each door, and a total of seven in all, the 2013 Leaf will offer the new system as a premium package option. Bose has been involved with car audio systems for three decades but a spokesperson says this accomplishment is by far the biggest professional milestone for the company.

For more about Nissan, see the Japanese automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.nissanusa.com
For more about Bose audio systems, see the company’s website:
http://www.bose.com

Larry Bell

Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S Huge Hits in Norway

Larry Bell — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 20:11:34 +0000

Tesla Model S

Electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and the Tesla Model S are brisk sellers in Norway. As a result of the government’s generous treatment of the EVs, there is little price difference between electric and conventional cars. With no import duty, no parking fees, and no congestion tax, the EV is gaining sales traction. In fact, the Nissan Leaf is already the thirteenth best-selling vehicle in Norway.

Nissan Leaf, Tesla Model S: Video

Norway’s capital city, Oslo, has the highest per capita electric car ownership rate in the world, and has laid claim to that title ever since the statistic has been calculated. This year, the trend is continuing in a big way, as the national government makes efforts to wire the major cities for EV transportation. In Oslo especially, as the following video brief points out, one cannot travel far without noticing charging stations. The downtown area offers free parking for EV owners and the national congestion tax is waived for electric cars. Another aspect that interests automotive engineers is the fact that Norway is a particularly cold place, yet electric vehicles seem to operate at peak efficiency.

Nissan leaf, Tesla Model S

While the Leaf and Model S build up their fan bases in Oslo and other Norwegian cities, Norwegians typically buy about 10,000 EVs per year. That is impressive, considering that the U.S. population is 63 times that of Norway’s, yet only bought five times as many electric cars as did Norwegians. Already, Norway has built more than 3,500 charging stations to service its population of 5 million people.

For more information about Nissan Motor Co., see the Japanese automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.nissanusa.com

For more about electric carmaker Tesla Motors, and to see some high-resolution photos of the Model S, Roadster, and Model X, see the official corporate website for Tesla:
http://www.teslamotors.com

Larry Bell

Nissan Leaf Price is Cut by $6,000

Larry Bell — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:40:31 +0000

Nissan Leaf

At the Detroit Auto Show this week, Nissan Motor Co. announced that it would reduce the sticker price for its all-electric Leaf car by $6,000. The 2013 model will go for $28,800 before federal and state tax incentives. After refunds from those sources, the effective price of the car could be as low as $18,800, placing it directly in competition with Toyota’s Prius hybrid and somewhat below the Chevrolet Volt hybrid and the Ford Focus EV. While the new, cheaper Leaf will be in showrooms by this time next month, it is clear that company CEO Carlos Ghosn is hoping the price cut will spur sales.

Nissan Leaf Price: Video

For a thorough review of the Nissan Leaf, view the video clip below. Much more than an overview, the 8-minute film literally walks you through the main features of the car, spending a significant portion of the time on dash controls and display screen capabilities, which are numerous.

Nissan Leaf Price

Last year’s global sales numbers for the Leaf were up by more than 20 percent. The company’s CEO is fast to admit that EV sales are facing a formidable obstacle due to the lack of charging stations in certain areas, but hopes that zero emission vehicles are here to stay, and that charging points will multiply rapidly during the next several years. The French and Japanese governments are firmly behind the construction of public charging stations, a topic close to Ghosn’s heart, but the U.S. and other developed nations still have a long way to go. The indefatigable Nissan CEO holds fast to his belief that electric vehicles will comprise a tenth of the company’s sales by the end of this decade.

For more about all the vehicles from Nissan, see the Japanese carmaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.nissanusa.com

Larry Bell

France Loves Plug-ins

Larry Bell — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 02:25:26 +0000

France: The Peugeot Onyx concept hybrid

Sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars in France reached well over the 5,000-mark for 2012, racking up an impressive 5,663 unit sales. The total was twice that of the previous year. The re-badged Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which sells in France as the Peugeot iOn, was the biggest seller of the group, with 2,744 units sold. French EV sales are about one-third of Europe’s total, and on a per-capita basis far outrank the U.S., a country with five times the population of France but only twice as many total EV sales.

France and Plug-ins: Video

You have never seen a Peugeot iOn do anything like this. The video clip is testament to the fact that electric cars can do all the same mindless things that other vehicles can do. Standard warning: This footage is actually an expert driver on a closed track. Don’t try it with your car, whether it is and EV or not! Back in 2009, Peugeot announced that its re-badged version of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV would be called iOn and would appear in showrooms by 2010. The car’s first appearance was at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, where Peugeot said that its range would be 80 miles per charge.

France and Plug-ins

Government support for electric and hybrid cars in France is solid, with several different ministries offering incentives for purchases by fleets and private individuals. The country offers national tax incentives, free parking, and various fee reductions for drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles. Indeed, one of the French government’s most powerful ministers, Industrial Renewal chief A. Montebourg, recently expressed his wishes that the country will lead all of Europe in building EV infrastructure. Nissan sold 524 of its Leaf electric cars in France last year, and the automaker expects 2013 to see a significant increase in both French and European sales.

To view the official Peugeot website, in English, see the following link:
http://www.peugeot.com/en

Larry Bell

Nissan Leaf: Made in the U.S.A

Larry Bell — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 11:52:16 +0000

The 2013 Nissan Leaf

This week, Nissan Motor Co. began making the Leaf electric car at its Smyrna, Tenn. plant. Until now, the car had been assembled in Japan, but the company is on a mission to bring the sticker price down for its U.S. buyers, and the local sourcing will go a long way toward achieving that goal.

Nissan Leaf: Video

Follow along on the assembly line as the Smyrna, Tenn., plant workers build a few Nissan Leafs. It is fascinating, and unusually silent footage as the cars trudge ever so slowly through the various stations and receive parts, quality checks, and other specialized attention. This will be the first year for the Leaf to be assembled at the same facility as Nissan’s non-electric vehicles. The company owns the largest battery plant in the U.S., which happens to be on the same property as the car assembly structure. No other car company makes its own batteries, so Nissan’s situation is an industry first.

Nissan Leaf

The Leaf electric car is assembled on the very same line as is the Altima and Maxima. It is truly a family affair for the company, as it adds battery packs from the Nissan plant next door, and then fits each car with an electric motor that was made nearby in Decherd, Tenn. The automaker refers to this close-knit sourcing as “localized manufacturing,” and it has enormous economic advantages. Transportation costs are kept to a bare minimum since the car’s two largest, and most expensive, components do not have to be shipped or flown in. It is an in-state job, which is part of Nissan’s long-term plan to build 85 percent of its North American cars in the U.S. by the end of the year 2015.

For more about Nissan USA, see the company’s official website:
http://www.nissanusa.com

Larry Bell

Nissan Offering $10K Incentive on Leaf

Larry Bell — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:07:49 +0000

Nissan offering big incentive on 2012 Leaf

Nissan dealers around the U.S. are offering nearly $10,000 in incentives on 2012 models, though most of the deals are set to run only until Jan. 2, 2013. The $9,700 is a lease incentive, but some California dealers are offering almost as much, $8,000, to people who purchase the cars. With Nissan ready to produce their new version of lithium battery packs in 2013, the carmaker is hoping to sell as many 2012 models as possible before the new ones hit the market. Those Leafs will feature an increased miles-per-charge range of almost 25 percent. In addition, 2013 Leaf will boast a lower base price and steel wheels.

Nissan Leaf: Video

For a very low-key visit with some happy owners of a Nissan Leaf, watch the clip below. The three members of this Orlando, Fla. family (mom, dad, and 9-month-old) have logged 24,000 miles in their Nissan Leaf since purchasing it two years ago. Because Orlando is an ‘electrified city, boasting more than 300 charge points, EV owners are able to deal with all their local traveling quite easily. Like many other Leaf owners, the family featured in the video has another, non-electric car. With Nissan Leaf prices ready to come down, and the range set to increase next year, there will likely be an increase in the number of one-car families who own nothing but an EV, be it a Nissan Leaf or some other model.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2iN5-XGDFM

Nissan Leaf

Currently, Nissan leases the Leaf electric car for $199 per month when consumers put $1,999 down on a 36-month agreement. Though the company faced some difficulties in the early rollout of the car, sales have picked up and owners have given high marks to the EV for reliability and economical operation.

For more about the Nissan Leaf electric car, see the Japanese automaker’s official website dedicated to the EV:
http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car

Larry Bell

Nissan Announces Giant Battery Facility

Larry Bell — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 11:32:41 +0000

Nissan Leaf electric car

Nissan Motor Co. is marking two years of selling the Leaf all-electric car by announcing activation of the largest lithium battery plant in the U.S. Sitting directly next to its Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant for the Leaf, Nissan will use the battery components in its ramped-up production of the popular EV. The battery facility is one of only three of its kind in existence. Though the automaker has experienced some bumps along the way, the Leaf remains the most successful all-electric vehicle ever, with 46,000 units sold worldwide, 18,000 of those to U.S.-based customers.

Nissan Leaf: Video

For some interesting footage of Nissan’s new facility in Tennessee, see the following video clip, which also offers a short summary of the automaker’s recent announcement. A Nissan corporate production, the short film shows the facility in operation and features comments by Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s CEO and President. The first batch of batteries produced at the Smyrna plant is now adequately aged and will soon get their first charge. Though the current battery components will go into Leaf electric cars exclusively, Nissan could easily add other electric vehicles to its lineup and produce those batteries here as well. So far, about 300 jobs have been added as a result of the battery production, but that number could grow to nearly 1,000 depending on demand.

Nissan Battery Plant in Tennessee

A major development for Nissan, the new factory will create hundreds of jobs in Tennessee. CEO Ghosn commented, “Opening this U.S. plant is an important milestone in Nissan’s overarching strategy to foster sustainable mobility around the world. Nisan is the zero-emissions vehicle leader, and we are making significant strides as one of the largest producers of electric vehicles and batteries in the United States. The opening of this facility in Tennessee supports our goal of making zero-emissions mobility a reality through American jobs and American manufacturing.”

For more about Nissan, see the automaker’s official global website:
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/

Larry Bell

Nissan Leaf Upgraded, Price Lowered

Larry Bell — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 04:12:48 +0000

Nissan Leaf

Nissan Motor Co. announced this week that their Leaf electric car would cost less for the next model year. In addition, the EV will feature a new function that informs drivers about the remaining range. Nissan responded to owner surveys, which pointed out that Leaf drivers wanted to know about remaining mileage, and wanted a lower price. More than that, Nissan has increased the car’s range to 142 miles from the previous 124 miles.

Nissan Leaf: Video

Spend six minutes getting to know the Nissan Leaf in the video clip that follows. No advertisement, this is an honest, hard-hitting review of the all-electric vehicle. As the reviewer notes, the Leaf might not win any beauty contests, but it perhaps ranks as the most practical EV in the market. Some drivers find the odd front end and bug-eyed headlights charming. A few purists might disagree. The important thing is that the Leaf was built from the ground up, so to speak. In other words, it was not based on any previous model. The reviewer, as you will notice, thinks rather highly of the fact that the Leaf is a well-rounded package of a car, with sensible design and ample cargo space. Surveys have shown that people who drive a Leaf electric car for the very first time are almost universally shocked at how solid and stable it feels. So much for the myth of tiny boxes with tiny batteries!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e0t_kQoG-I

Nissan Leaf Upgraded

Nissan achieved the 18-mile range increase by making the car lighter and simplifying the battery packs. In Japan, the starting price for the base model went from $37,000 to $31,000. So far, these upgrades and price alterations are confined to the Japanese market, but a company spokesperson noted that the new features and prices would soon be exported.

For Nissan’s official global website, see:
www.nissan-global.com/

Larry Bell

Nissan’s Electric Goals

Larry Bell — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:06:19 +0000

Nissan Leaf

Nissan Motor Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Carlos Ghosn, this week announced that the giant automaker intends to capture at least 8 percent of the world auto market within five years, and as much as 10 percent in the U.S. The outspoken helmsman of Nissan pointed out that as the Renault electric cars begin to see mass-market status, sales of electric vehicles will contribute to the overall goal of the corporation. At least two of the EVs Ghosn has high hopes for are the Renault Zoe and the Nissan Leaf. The CEO also said he expects the U.S. auto market to continue its rebound through 2013 and beyond.

Nissan: Video

Spend five minutes getting familiar with the hottest concept car from the Sao Paulo Motor Show, Nissan’s Extrem. The video shows all the planning and design work that went into the amazing vehicle from day one, taking us from drawing board to auto show. Nissan designers collaborated with Brazilians to create the initial idea for the Extrem. Then the teams spent the balance of their time on site in Brazil, hoping to absorb the cultural influences of the country. The result, as everyone agreed, is an authentic Brazilian product, a car that could very well end up in showrooms several years from now. Will it be an EV, a hybrid, or something else? No one, not even Nissan executives, can say for sure because the Extrem is only a concept for now. It is also a work of art.

Nissan’s Electric Goals

Nissan’s Leaf EV made history as being the first mass-marketed electric car, and when the marketing plans hit a few snags early on, Ghosn and company redoubled their efforts. Between now and 2017, Ghosn expects Leaf sales to improve as more markets are opened up, and EV infrastructure becomes somewhat more developed.

For all the latest information about Nissan vehicles, see the Japanese automaker’s official corporate website:
http://www.nissan-global.com

Larry Bell

Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf to Offer Wireless Charging

Larry Bell — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:28:45 +0000

Chevy Volt, 2013

Evatran, a maker of Plugless Power brand wireless car chargers, will begin offering the devices to buyers of the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt in March of 2013. Between now and then, SPX Service Solutions, which supplies chargers for the Volt, will work with Evatran to offer consumers wireless, home-charging units for their Volt hybrid-electric cars.

Chevy Volt: Video

You will learn the basics of wireless charging in the interesting video link below. Evatran staff prepared the brief clip to explain how the systems can be put into virtually any electric car, and are compatible with the standard J1772 adaptor. The convenience factor is given the most attention in the film, and general questions are addressed. Wireless charging for electric and hybrid vehicles has not become commonplace for individual car owners yet, but the technology is seeing wide appeal in commercial and municipal fleets, where cost savings are larger because of the number of cars that are fitted with the devices. With minimal weight addition and ease of alignment, look for wireless charging units to start turning up as an option on more electric and hybrid cars.

Volt, Leaf Going Wireless

Right now, the wireless units are about 90 percent efficient at transmitting electricity through the air and into the car’s battery, but the new devices for the Volt and Leaf will likely be even more effective at charging an EV or hybrid, according to Evatran’s CEO, Rebecca Hough. According to Hough, the unit is intended for perhaps 20 percent of hybrid and EV owners, who are searching for more convenience when it comes to daily charging of their automobiles.

For more about the Chevy Volt, see Chevrolet’s dedicated website for the car:
http://www.chevrolet.com/Volt

To learn more about the Nissan Leaf EV, see Nissan’s official corporate website, which features a special section for the Leaf:
http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car

Larry Bell