Nissan LEAF
Nissan’s first Nissan LEAF came with a price tag of £23,990, taking into account the then £5,000 Government incentive for electric vehicle buyers and including the cost of the battery.
At the time, Nissan claimed that, depending on an individual's electricity tariff and time of charging, it was possible to run the LEAF for less than 2pence per mile.
Initially available in five exterior colours and one trim level, all models came with air conditioning, satellite navigation and a parking camera as standard. Smartphone connectivity enabled owners to check charging levels plus heat or cool the interior of the car remotely.
The car's AC motor gave a maximum speed of more than 90mph and a range of up to 100 miles on a full charge.
In 2013, the second generation Nissan LEAF came with more than 100 changes. These included an extended range from a battery with a faster 6.6kw charging option, complemented by subtle styling changes and recued weight. A fully integrated motor and charger meant more luggage space whilst interior comfort as a whole was improved by revised seats. The range was comprised of four versions, the Visia, Visia+, Acenta and Tekna along with more equipment such as leather trim, a wider colour range and a new range of wheel options.
In 2016 Nissan provided the option of a 30 kWh battery for the Acenta and Tekna trim grades that gives drivers 155 miles of motoring range. Owners also had the peace of mind of an eight year, 100,000 mile warranty for the battery’s capacity. The 30kWh battery could and can be recharged from home, public chargers, or rapid chargers.
A further innovation was the NissanConnect EV system to replace the previous Carwings setup which added new features (including a charging map of available/in use chargers), a simplified activation process and a new design.
Other features of the car include regenerative braking system and an "Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians" system, which is designed to alert pedestrians that a vehicle is approaching.
Internally, the 2016 version of the LEAF provides room for five adults and 370 litres of boot space with a body designed to reduce both drag and noise.
Two different wheel designs are and no less than nine exterior colours were made available: Bronze, Pearl Black, Blade Silver, Arctic White, Gun Metallic, Magnetic Red, Storm White, Solid Red and Sonic Blue.
The 2016 Nissan LEAF came in three models: Visia, Acenta and Tekna. Standard features included automatic air conditioning, Hill Start Assist, Nissan Intelligent Key and Bluetooth phone integration. Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and USB port are also fitted as standard.
Acenta models add 16-inch alloy wheels, electric folding mirrors, NissanConnect EV, rear view camera and a heat pump energy-saving cabin heating system as standard. Acenta models are also equipped with B-mode for enhanced regenerative braking, automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers. Customers can specify the Acenta model with either the 24kWh battery or the new 30kWh battery.
Range-topping Tekna models feature heated front and rear seats, a heated steering wheel, 17-inch alloy wheels and Around View Monitor as standard. Owners of this version of the LEAF also benefit from black leather trim, a BOSE audio system with seven speakers and LED headlamps.
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