Some quietly broken news this past week was that the 2019 Nissan LEAF is expected to have 225 miles of range, potentially trolling the base Tesla Model 3 by 5 miles. That would put the LEAF #5 of the list of electric cars with the most range, only trailing the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Tesla Model 3 Long Range, and Chevy Bolt.
2017 was a strange year, with plenty to celebrate and plenty to ponder about. The wild ups and downs most of us have gone through, both personally and professionally, were reflected in the industries we cover as well. So let’s take a look at what surprised us, what shows the most potential, and what was simply strange.
The new, refreshed Nissan LEAF has been selling quite well in Japan since its launch there — with only a few Nissan models eclipsing it (the Note, the X-Trail/Rogue SUV, and the company’s flagship sedan in the market).
Is the 2019 Nissan LEAF designed to lure buyers who would otherwise go with conventional vehicles from a premium brand (like BMW, Audi, etc.)?
The year just wrapped up here in Europe. Below were the 30 most popular articles of the year here on CleanTechnica. Naturally, despite a slower production ramp than expected and planned, the big cleantech story of the year was the Tesla Model 3. However, no article about that car won the top spot. Surprisingly, the top spot was won by a piece I very quickly put together after almost deciding to go to bed instead. I think there’s really something to that article’s success, and I think Tesla would be wise to consider it — but that’s a discussion for another day.
Nissan has begun offering buyers of the new, refreshed Leaf in Japan free installation of home solar photovoltaic (PV) systems — if they sign up for specific retail electricity plans with Ecosystem Japan.
A lot has changed since I first compiled a list of the 11 electric cars with the most range. Most of those cars no longer make the list. Furthermore, there are a handful of affordable electric cars that have jumped into the high-range bracket. Have a look below (and compare to that 2015 list) for more details.
There are some significant differences with regard to the plug-in electric vehicles that sell the best in Europe and those that sell the best in the USA. While differences with regard to range needs and costs are part of the drivers for these differences (note that the average European drives approximately half as much as the average American over the course of a year), they are by no means the only ones. Questions of national bias, government incentives, and public image all come into play as well, amongst others.
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).
