As pre-orders pass 10,000 across Europe, drivers can now use a new Nissan online reservation system for the 2018 Nissan LEAF — in the UK and Poland, at least, but presumably all other European markets as well. Well, you can order 2.ZERO special versions, not other trims yet.
The first 2018 Nissan LEAFs for Europe are now rolling off the line at Nissan’s plant in Sunderland, UK. Customers will start receiving their 2018 Nissan LEAFs in February. The new Nissan LEAF offers longer journeys without recharging. The improved range of 235 miles (NEDC) on a single charge is more than double the range that the Leaf provided before (real-world range is more like 150 miles).
I’ve been an advocate for EVs since restoring a 1994 USElecticar Chevy S-10 in 2009. I’ll admit my time horizon for wide adoption of EVs at that time was decades out. Little did I realize that two players would appear Nissan with the Leaf in 2011 and Tesla with the Model S in 2012. Hindsight provides the opportunity to see this as a one-two punch to the traditional auto business. Nissan targets the average car buyer in a traditional manufacturer/dealer environment. Tesla takes aim at the high-end luxury segment in a nontraditional manufacturer direct to consumer format.
Yesterday, two women engaged me in conversation asking questions about driving an all-electric car (since I drive a Nissan LEAF). They were mystified and then happily surprised when I alleviated a few misconceptions about electric vehicles. Most of the time when I’m in a discussion about EVs, it’s because I’m charging and people walk up curious about them. In general, people seem to become much more interested once the facts on driving EVs become clear.
Episode #42 of Cleantech Talk is here! This episode covers my LA Auto Show-inspired VW-Scooby Doo fantasy crossover and “Fair Trade” Copper.
An electric carsharing program with ~200 Nissan LEAFs has launched in the city where I live — Wrocław, Poland. The EV revolution is spreading.
Nissan will be launching a new carsharing service in Japan — one providing new, ProPILOT-equipped Nissan LEAFs and Note e-POWER units to users — following the turn of the new year.
If you are in the UK, here’s the deal for you. A new electric car is in town. Well, a new old one. You can now put your name down for a Nissan LEAF 2.ZERO — the exclusive launch edition of the next-generation Nissan LEAF. Nissan has just announced the PCP offer for this new LEAF.
The big electric car sales story again in November was that Chevy Bolt sales rose again, and took the #1 spot again.
The next tier was Tesla’s showroom — the Model S and Model X — based on my estimates for the month*.
The long-range, completely refreshed, 2018 Nissan LEAF is now being produced at the Smyrna Vehicle Assembly Plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, the company has revealed. Current plans call for these first units to be delivered to dealerships in the US beginning next month.
