Automaker tackles battery concerns
LOS ANGELES • For some consumers, concerns about the batteries in all-electric and even hybrid vehicles are tempering their enthusiasm for jumping on the alternative-power bandwagon. What happens when the battery starts losing its ability to recharge? How long will it last and how much will it cost to replace? These are a few of the questions folks are asking and now one automaker — Nissan — believes it has the answers.
Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan and Renault, took the wraps off the production version of Nissan’s all-electric Leaf four-door here in California, a state dubbed Ground Zero in the movement to reduce greenhouse gases and create a positive impact on climate change. Ghosn was kicking off a 22-city, cross-country tour that will introduce this zero emissions, mid-sized product to the masses. (The tour includes one Canadian stop; Vancouver, Dec. 14-15.) The Leaf will hit the streets in limited release next year and goes on sale to the general public in 2012.
Nissan bean counters are still working on pricing, but Ghosn promises there will be “no surprises,” and that the sticker price will be “affordable.” In fact, when a shopper is kicking tires in the showroom, Ghosn says there should be a minimal price difference — about 1% to 2% — between the electric model and a comparable gas-powered one. But the key factor for buyers concerned about battery issues is being addressed in a novel way — the Leaf’s battery will be leased to the car owner. This way, if there are issues with the battery, it will be Nissan’s problem, not the consumer’s. In fact, as battery technology advances and new generations are developed, Nissan says Leaf owners will be able to take advantage of those improvements with updated replacements.
Operating costs are also expected to be competitive — the annual cost for the electricity to recharge the Leaf, plus the battery leasing cost, will be lower than a gasoline-fuelled counterpart, Ghosn says.
A Leaf was displayed during the media launch, but it was strictly look, don’t touch. No one was allowed to even sit in the vehicle. However, a modified Versa sedan fitted with the Leaf’s powertrain was available for brief test drives, and those few minutes behind the wheel demonstrated how far Nissan’s all-electric technology has advanced in just a couple of years. Having driven its EV-1 test car in Yokohama, Japan, this EV-12 test mule was impressively smooth, quiet and quick. Acceleration was no issue, sprinting to 100 kilometres an hour in less than 10 seconds. Its electric steering was responsive and the platform’s handling seemed decent on the limited test course. Overall, the car felt like it was production-ready — just add the Leaf bodywork.
Power for the Leaf comes from compact laminated lithium ion batteries, located under the rear seat and floor, that generate an output of more than 90 kilowatts. They drive an electric AC motor that delivers 80 kW of power and 206.5 pound-feet of torque that’s instantly on tap.
The Leaf has a top speed of 140 km/h, with a range of 160 km, Nissan says — enough to satisfy the daily needs of more than 70% of the world’s drivers. When the battery needs a boost, it can be recharged in about eight hours by simply plugging it in to a 220-volt outlet, similar to the box used for an electric range or clothes dryer. A quick charge, to be available at commercial outlets, will bring the Leaf up to 80% power in 30 minutes. For apartment dwellers, however, recharging will be an issue, at least until a supporting infrastructure is in place.
The big plus for the Leaf, though, is it emits zero tailpipe emissions. Actually, there is no tailpipe and Nissan says the entire car is also 99% recyclable. Recycled materials are utilized in its construction, including plastics extracted from discarded bottles and home appliances.
There’s no skimping the amenities, with a full suite of features, including an electric climate control system that can be activated through one’s cellphone. There’s also heated seats and steering wheel, navigation and audio systems. While the lithium ion battery has proven capable of enduring winter temperatures, Nissan engineers did acknowledge the electric heating system will put an above-normal load on the battery that could affect the car’s driving range during extreme cold.
The Leaf sits on a 2,700-millimetre wheelbase, with an overall length of 4,445 mm. It’s 1,770 mm wide and 1,550 mm tall. It’s cabin is rated for five passengers, and Ghosn says its cargo capacity is comparable to a conventionally powered mid-sized sedan.
Nissan will start building zero-emissions vehicles at its Smyrna, Tenn., plant — with a production capacity of 150,000 vehicles — in late 2012. The batteries will also be built in a nearby facility that will be capable of cranking out 200,000 units a year.
The Leaf is a real step forward toward zero-emissions mobility, one that Nissan promises will be affordable and capable of swinging consumers away from gasoline-fuelled cars without sacrificing the fun-to-drive factor.