Nissan LEAF 2012 News

The carmaker has turned its electric Leaf into a race concept, the Leaf Nismo RC, revealed this week in New York.Nissan says it hits 100km/h in6.85 seconds and has a top speed of 150km/h. It can recharge up to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes, and has an estimated race running time of 20 minutes - which looks to make for some very short races or very long pit stops.Wrapped in a in a lowered lightweight carbon-fibre body, the lithium-ion battery pack, 80kW electric motor and inverter are mid-located, with drive to the rear wheels rather than the front as in the Leaf.Created at the Nissan Global Design Center in Japan, the concept's three-piece bodywork includes removable front and rear sections, fixed windows, LED headlights and taillights and driver-adjustable rear wing.It sits on a shorter wheelbase than the Leaf, but is slightly longer and wider - and about 35cm lower, with a ground clearance of just 6cm (10cm less than the production car). It also weighs 40 per cent less at about 940kg.

Nissan, which withdrew from car making in Australia in 1991 and has mostly flown under the radar since that time as a manufacturer of aluminium components, has just landed a massive deal that will protect the jobs and earn more than $150 million over the next five years. It won a global tender for cast aluminium parts for the company's new worldwide flagship, the battery-powered Leaf. It will earn more than $30 million a year by exporting three cast aluminium parts in the Leaf's inverter box, and is also tendering for a fourth piece. "We now have a very aggressive and growing business in Australia," says the head of Nissan Australia, Dan Thompson. "We've been able to compete with some very, very aggressive neighbours, whether that's Thailand, China or Mexico." Nissan Casting in Dandenong won the business, which will add more than $30 million a year to Australia's automotive exports until 2015. The new deal saved the Nissan factory at Clayton in Melbourne from closure and will provide the foundation for a local development program on aluminium accessories including bull bars for Nissan's four-wheel drives. Nissan stopped making the Pulsar at Clayton in 1991 - in a giant factory complex that now houses Holden Special Vehicles as one tenant - but its casting plant survives and has now been operating for more than 30 years. It gets a major update under the new deal, with $13 million for tooling and another $8 million for upgrading of the factory. Nissan also landed a $3.5 million bonus from the Federal government's Green Innovation Fund, which has since been chopped, to help fund the deal. Thompson admits the Dandenong casting plant was close to closure last year, but a change of management and the aggressive export drive has secured the jobs and kept the factory operating on three shifts, seven days a week. "Manufacturing in Australia has never been tougher," Thompson says.

The breakthrough Nissan, claimed to be the world's first purpose-built electric car, is an impressive drive that looks like it ticks almost every box on the future of motoring.There is a downside - an estimated $60,000 pricetag and Australia's coal-fueled power stations - but the Leaf shows that electric motoring doesn't have to feel like a science experiment.Nissan Australia has landed the first two Leafs (should that be Leaves?) as it prepares for a $5 million electric car trial with the Victorian government from midyear and the start of local sales in around a year.The cars also celebrate Nissan Australia's successful tender for a $30 million-a-year export deal for aluminium castings used in the invertor housing used in the Leaf."This car is real," the boss of Nissan Australia, Dan Thompson, says simply. He has the proof in the carpark, with Leafs that are built in Japan for sales in the UK but charged in Melbourne and ready to run on Australian roads.The background to the Leaf runs back to 1992, when Nissan began its research on electric vehicles, and includes everything from a cumulative $5 billion in spending to a Leaf-based sports car, shared models wearing Renault badges and plans to produce 300,000 electric cars a year by 2013, The car itself is relatively simple.It's a similar size to the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla, runs a 250- kilogram lithium-ion battery pack under the floor, has 280 Newton- metres of torque, and is loaded with high-tech features including a very special electric aircon system and satnav that automatically tracks the location of the nearest plug-in recharge points.The Leaf is a long way down the electric road from a Mitsubishi iMiEV or Subaru Stella, or even the MiniE, which I have driven in the past. It's a genuine production car, which means all the touch-and-feel stuff is just like every other Nissan. The ride and handling, too, is impressively 'normal'.It's not a science experiment, or something that is closer to a golf cart than a car. Even the styling is pitched right, as the Leaf is different enough to satisfy the 'look-at-me' people who will compare it to a Toyota Prius, but not different enough to deter buyers. And it has a genuine five- seater cabin with a boot.Driving it in everyday conditions in suburban Melbourne, the Leaf has an impressive turn of pace and easily keeps ahead of most traffic away from the lights. It is very very quiet up to 80km/h and the aircon works well The high-tech displays take some learning, but the computers say there is 130 kilometres of driving range and that falls only marginally during my 20-kilometre run. Switching to Eco mode and killing the aircon stretches the distance to a planned plug-in by around 20 kilometres.This is only Day One of the Leaf story in Australia, and it's very hard to make a genuine assessment without a pricetag - estimated at $60,000, or roughly three times the price of a Corolla - but the signs look good.Now, if only Australia had more sources of green power to fuel this green machine ...

And it seems they’ll have to do the same for the other of the first generation of mass-market electric vehicles being rolled out, the Mitsubishi iMiEV. Mitsubishi announced this month that its iMiEV plug-in electric car arriving in July will only be available on a lease basis. Now Nissan says it will do the same when its Leaf EV arrives in 2012.Nissan Australia CEO Dan Thompson says leasing a package that includes a charging system installed in the home would be "the most favourable option"."The problem is customer's range anxiety," he says, pointing out that motorists will need a dedicated charging system in their home to satisfy concerns about the limited 160km range of the vehicle. It will be important to package the whole thing with charging hardware for the home. (The lease arrangement) will most likely be offered exclusively through Nissan's finance company."The vehicle goes on sale in Japan and the US in December with US buyers able to choose between a lease package and an outright purchase."Over the next six months we will be ale to see the data about what has worked in the US," Thompson says. "This is a 100 per cent new business model for us. We won't know the answers until we see the rollout overseas."The vehicle will cost about $42,000 after the US government's $7500 cashback subsidy. Nissan chief operating officer Toshiyuki Shiga says the Japanese government is offering a cash subsidy of half the price differential over a conventionally powered car of the same size. In Japan, the Leaf price is about $48,000 and the government subsidy is $9800."After 2012 we will expand production overseas and the costs will come down," Shiga says. "Over the next six years the cost of gasoline powered cars and EV will be about the same. In the beginning it will be difficult to sell because of the cost, but when the cost comes down the government incentives will go."Thomson says Nissan Australian is about 'a year away' from settling on prices. 

Despite the fact it has not even gone on sale in its key markets it is a sell-out in the United States and Japan.  Nissan dealers in the US hold 13,000 pre-orders for the cars, with customers putting down $US99 refundable deposits to reserve a vehicle.  In Japan 6000 people have put deposits on cars. The plug-in Leaf goes on sale in both countries later this year and is due to hit local Nissan showrooms some time in 2012.  The company is aiming to sell 50,000 electric cars in the US, Europe and Japan next year.  It is currently installing fast-charging stations at all 2200 Nissan dealerships in Japan, which allows the car to be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 30 minutes. The Tiida-size Leaf hatch is the first of several Nissan and Renault EV vehicles planned.  By 2013, the company has plans to build eight electric vehicles, including sedans and commercial vehicles. Nissan has just announced pricing for the Leaf in Europe.  In most of its European launch markets it will cost under $45,000 after government incentives, about the same as a comparably-equipped diesel or hybrid car. The Leaf uses a lithium-ion electric motor to produce 80kW/280Nm. It has a range of about 160km and top speed of 140km/h.  The Nissan-Renault chief executive officer, Carlos Ghosn, told the Detroit Economic Club last week that it wants to sell 500,000 electric cars by 2012. However, some critics argue that he is being overly optimistic, given obvious shortcomings of pure-EV cars like their higher cost and range compared to conventional petrol or diesel vehicles.  "We understand that when you go into innovation or new technology, some people are more bullish and some are more bearish," Ghosn says. "Five hundred thousand units is only 0.8 percent or 0.9 percent of the car market."  Ghosn is trying to sell more electric cars through both companies than the sales forecasts of its rivals. General Motors is aiming to built 45,000 of its Volt electric car, which also uses petrol, annually by 2012. California-based start-up Tesla Motors Inc, which already builds the electric Roadster, wants to sell about 20,000 of its Model S family sedan in 2012.

But Nissan boss, Dan Thompson, warns that without some level of government support Australian buyers could be forced to pay more than Japan or US buyers."We've just announced pricing in Japan and the US and they’re both around the mid-$30,000s and then with government incentives it’s about US$25,000," Thompson says."Certainly the whole strategy behind EV is to deliver an affordable proposition to the consumer. It's too early to talk about local pricing for Leaf but what you've seen in Japan and the US is very much aligned with global positioning and strategy for the car."Nissan Australia has signed memorandums of understandings with the ACT, NSW and Victoria governments to explore how best to adopt EV cars. Thompson is keen to get federal support too.

Showing a prototype of the zero-emissions vehicle – due to go on sale in 2012 – in Sydney today,  Nissan Australia managing director and CEO Dan Thompson was coy about the car’s predicted price but said the federal government's involvement is critical to the financial proposition for the Leaf. "The Leaf will come with more spec than a low-end small car, for us it's about delivering that with the help of government incentives,” Thompson says."The car will come in 2012 – but the biggest task for us is to get much better traction with governments.  "We are working with NSW and Victoria, as well as the other states and the FCAI, but the federal government's support is critical. "We've had discussions at the federal level, but it's fair to say the states have been much more active in putting the discussions into action," he says.  Nissan Motor Company senior vice-president Andy Palmer is in Australia with the Nissan Leaf electric car – its first appearance in the southern hemisphere – and said the top end of the small car segment price range is where they want to see the car. "Our intention is basically the car itself is equal in cost to a normal C-segment car like a Tiida, the battery would then be leased, plus the charging cost would be less than the petrol of a normal car," Palmer says.  Palmer is in Australia to highlight the future of electric cars but agrees the company needs the support of government to make it happen. "To bring the vehicle here en masse we need the support of the federal and regional governments – here we're saying’ all the stars are in the right direction to bring EVs to Australia, now give us a hand’ – we're not making any money on this in the first instance.  "To make it affordable, we want to promote that but that's where we need the help of the government," he said. Palmer says Australia is well-suited to electric cars if people can make use of an electric vehicle with a range of 160km.  "There are many two-car families, one electric and one internal combustion (in each household) makes sense. A lot of cars here are stored in off-street parking in garages, which makes sense for charging. "One of the reasons for coming here with the car is to start the dialogue with governments, to make them aware that we have the solution at the vehicle level, now what we need the solution at the level of incentives and at the level of infrastructure," he says.  Nissan cites Ireland and the US as examples of pro-active subsidies for electric car customers, including free installation of the home-charging system to the first 2000 Irish customers, with a 5000 Euro rebate; while the US government has promised a $7500 rebate. Nissan Leaf electric car Body: Five-door hatchSeats:  five.Range: up to 160kmPowertrain: aminated lithium-ion 48-module (containing 192 cells) battery system.Outputs: 80kW/280NmCharging timer and information available via Bluetooth phone link.The climate control can be programmed via Bluetooth.10 minute fast charge can restore up to 50km of range; 30-minute fast-charge can restore 80 per cent of the battery's charge. Charging timer and information available via Bluetooth phone link.

... but have not been commercially viable or acceptable to the mass market because of limited battery technology. Nissan built its first electric vehicle, the Tama, with a lead-acid battery in 1947 before switching to using nickel-metal hydride batteries. The Japanese company started research and development into battery technology in 1992 with cobalt-based, cylindrical batteries. It later switched to cheaper and lighter manganese and then flat laminated lithium-ion batteries. Nissan battery pack design chief Sadao Miki said the company's development of lithium-ion batteries was the key to future electric vehicles. Company product planner Andy Palmer said the ‘breakthrough’ was the lithium-ion technology. "The battery is our piece de resistance," he said. Nissan's first electric car with lithium-ion batteries was the Prairie Joy SUV in 1996. The original Prairie EV was on show at the international launch of Nissan's new electric vehicle in Yokohama on Sunday. It was used by the Japanese government at the North Pole as an observation vehicle for three years and featured Japan's first non-contact charging system using magnetic induction technology rather than physically plugging into a mains outlet or charging station. It had a range of 200km and a power output of 62kW. The company has since produced the Altras and Hypermini electric vehicles and in 1997 established the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation in a joint partnership to produce lithium-ion batteries. The Leaf electric vehicle will be produced next year with two more electric vehicles to follow before the second generation of the Leaf. Palmer would not say what segment the other electric vehicles would fit into, but he ruled out large vehicles because of weight issues.

Electric vehicles are hampered by limited range and the slow process of recharging their batteries. But rather than wait for the infrastructure to be established, car companies are forging ahead with plans for electric vehicles.In the next couple of years our market will see electric vehicles from Mitsubishi, Nissan and GM.So what do motorists do about charging them? Most batteries take about eight hours to fully charge on 240-volt mains power and have a range below 200km, which means they need recharging almost daily. Even quick-charging high-voltage solutions can take up to 30 minutes to get a battery up to 80 per cent charge.Motorists are used to fuelling the tank on their internal combustion engines at a convenient service station in about five minutes, so having to stop for half an hour would be a huge impost.Nissan, whose Leaf electric hatchback goes into production next year and will arrive here in 2011, believes motorists will have to change the way they live with their vehicle, but can still enjoy convenient motoring.There are several options for recharging electric vehicles such as mains trickle charging, quick-charging stations and even battery replacement facilities. Which solution emerges as the most popular will be much like the 1980s battle between VHS and Beta technology or the current DVD versus Blue-Ray.Nissan global zero emissions business unit general manager Hideaki Watanabe says he doesn't care which option wins, but believes all could succeed and live together. "It will be a race between all the options. There could be some other new solutions for infrastructure as well," he said. "It may depend on which one becomes mature first and which one the customers want."He sees a future with electric vehicles as a blend of these solutions with mains trickle charging at home overnight when electricity charges are low and top-up quick charges in public places such as shopping centre carparks throughout the day. "Some retailers are showing an interest in EV," he said."Malls are interested in providing the infrastructure to keep people shopping longer. Maybe shops will offer discounts on charging if they buy products from them like they do now with parking charges."However, he said the industry also needed government help with establishing infrastructure as well as providing incentives for motorists to go electric such as reduced stamp duty and registration, priority lanes, parking concessions and education of the public. "You have to give some benefits to people to switch to electricity," he said.He isn't concerned with the criticism that vehicles powered by electricity from coal-fired power stations — such as in Australia — only shift the emissions from the street to the factory. "I don't care about how the electricity is generated," he said. "It's like the chicken and the egg. Do we wait for environmentally friendly electricity generation infrastructure or not?"I believe we have a responsibility to introduce a zero emission vehicle now. If we introduced the zero emission vehicle then people and governments and the private sector will do their part to provide zero-emission power."

The Japanese company has opened its new global headquarters in Yokohama and unveiled the new platform on which its first production electric vehicles will be based. Nissan has been developing its electric vehicle program through a Tiida-based prototype with a compact lithium-ion battery under the floor. Nissan Australia senior corporate communications manager Jeffrey Fisher said the dedicated new electric vehicle to be unveiled today would go into production next year and be available in Australia in 2012. The electric vehicle features an IT system which integrates satellite navigation and the internet to ensure the car is always charged and available for use. This includes a display on the car’s satnav map that shows the maximum range of the vehicle for the current state of battery charge and the location of recharging stations within the range radius. It also features a timer function which will start the car’s airconditioner or battery charging at a specified time. The air-conditioner can be programmed to cool the cabin to a set temperature while the vehicle is being charged so that it doesn2t drain the vehicle's battery. Charging can be set to start at a specified time at night to benefit from cheaper electricity rates and can be programmed and monitored by mobile phone or the internet. A text message can be sent to the driver when the battery is fully charged and the vehicle is ready for use. The electric vehicle is powered by a Nissan-developed electric motor delivering 80kW of power and 280Nm of torque. The 24kWh laminated compact lithium-ion battery pack is housed under the floor so it doesn2t compromise cabin or cargo space. The battery layout also allows smooth air-flow under the car, reducing aerodynamic drag. While electric vehicles are quiet, Nissan’s model could be even quieter as the additional frame for the battery pack improves rigidity reducing vibration and external sounds. The electric vehicle uses a system of regenerative braking which recovers power from the brakes to recharge the battery as used in Toyota’s Prius hybrid car. Nissan claims the regenerative braking system extends the driving range to more than 160km, depending on how hard it is driven.