For almost two months, the new Nissan Leaf has been produced and sold in Japan, and in December it will also settle in factories in the English Sunderland and in the American state of Tennessee to begin a crusade for the title of the most popular electric car on the planet, lost two years ago. And it is very likely that on this march the Leaf will appear even in Russia, becoming the only "official" light electric car on our market. In the meantime, I'm in Yokohama, and I have about 50 km ahead of me so that, as the new Leaf suggests, do not turn the steering wheel or press the pedals.

Ladies and gentlemen, the new Nissan Leaf is not an electric car!

Nissan's speechwriters and talking heads are not to be envied. Just imagine: a month ago the world went crazy over an iPhone that recognizes the owner by sight, in another month everyone will lose their heads from the first battery-powered truck, then serial premium electric crossovers will go jamb, and your main novelty under the veil - a democratic electric hatchback, which slightly increased the battery and underwent a large-scale plastic surgery. Since there is no drama, it must be invented. That's why the gala in Tokyo, which first showed the new Leaf two weeks before my arrival, kicked off with such a feigned sensation from Daniel Schillaci, Nissan's vice president of marketing, sales and electromobility.

Electric car	Global sales in 2016	USA	Europe
Nissan leaf	51882	14006	18378
Tesla model s	50944	26525	12400
Byd tang	31405	-	-
Chevrolet volt	28296	24739	42
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV	27322	-	21318
Bmw i3	25934	7625	15023
Tesla model x	25299	13450	3709
Renault zoe	22009	-	21266
BYD Qin	21868	-	-
BYD e6	20610	-	-

Electric car	Global sales in January-September 2017
Tesla model s	39515
Toyota Prius Prime / PHV	39369
BAIC EC	37876
Nissan leaf	36311
Tesla model x	33415

The most massive electric car in the world? Lifecycle sales are still Leaf: Nissan claims 283,000 of these hatchbacks have been sold worldwide since 2010. But analyzing the annual results will give us other winners. Not all manufacturers are willing to share accurate data on electric vehicle sales, but among the resources that maintain independent statistics on global sales, the EV Sales portal deserves confidence, which brings together both clean electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids with a significant supply of electric vehicles. According to him, Tesla Model S first took over the leadership in 2015 and in 2016 should also be considered a bestseller, but as a result electric car nissan The Leaf includes 1,200 copies of its Chinese version of the Venucia e30, which do not appear in official records. At the same time, demand for Leaf is evenly distributed around the world, and, for example, in Japan, it has 14,800 more cars in 2016. The results in the second table give an idea of ​​the balance of power in 2017.

Of course, the Leaf is 100% electric. Even two percent, because it retained not only the ideology, but also the technique of its predecessor. Essentially, the Leaf II is a heavily redesigned first-generation Leaf that inherits the previous layout and chassis along with all their pros and cons. However, now all the parade electronics of Nissan are hoisted on this carrier platform, so that the Leaf, as announced by Vice President Schillaci, is no longer an electric car, but a "icon of new mobility", a showcase of the near future, as seen from the upper floors of headquarters. apartments on the west coast of Tokyo Bay.

Leaf has inherited platform with rear elastic beam from cars Nissan tiida and Note of previous generations. Major improvements to the chassis - rubber bumpers instead of polyurethane in the rear suspension and reconfigured power steering

More precisely, the iconostasis. Electromobility plus autopilot plus integrability, by which Nissan understands the expansion of the domestic role of personal electric vehicles. Separately, they are not revelations, but Leaf for the first time put it all together in a visual triptych.

It is now equipped with the ProPilot system, which partially takes over control when driving on motorways. He has a ProPilot Park complex that almost completely automates the parking process. Expanded squad of electronic assistants Nissan Safety Shield with automatic braking functions and the ability to prevent collisions or collisions while driving reverse... As before, the Leaf can be used as a buffer battery to optimize home energy consumption: while Nissan is in the garage, it can charge its battery with cheap "night" electricity, and then power household appliances during the day. And now all this has become more convenient to control remotely - through the updated application for smartphones. And on the way, there is also a contactless charging function.

Nissan is committed to the CHAdeMo standard (left plug) with DC charging up to 50 kW. On the right is a traditional IEC 62196-2 connector, aka SAE J1772-2009, or Yazaki for AC. And in the middle of the compartment there is a backlight

For all this, Leaf has already managed to get the prize of the consumer electronics exhibition CES 2018 in advance. But in my opinion, Skillachi did not say the main thing. The Leaf is no longer quite an electric car because it looks, feels and stands almost like a regular passenger car. This is his most important innovation.

After all, how did it all begin? When Nissan launched the first-generation Leaf in 2010, the most important thing was to tell the world that electric cars are already here and they are not like everyone else. Design, interior, driving habits, driver's interface - all this was deliberately out of the ordinary. Chevrolet Volt, Tesla, Renault Zoe, BMW i3 and many others have moved along this path. But seven years later, everyone already knows what a battery-powered car is, so the battle for the "wow factor" is slowly giving way to fuss in configurators for the sake of value for money, and Nissan is now striding on a different foot.

Anti-iPhone on wheels! Ordinary car interiors have made the Leaf more boring, but cosmopolitan. The only serious flaw in ergonomics is the steering wheel without offset adjustment, although Nissan promises a different column for Europe and America.

Leaf II is extremely pragmatic and for the sake of market success was created according to the canons of the mainstream. Its task is to attract not only the owners of the first generation copies, but also those who have not previously thought about a car on electricity. Therefore, he tries his best to appear as a non-electric vehicle.

Wait: on a Japanese car - a modern block of auxiliary buttons

Likewise, the new Pulsar or Tiida could look the same, and the interior would suit any compact Nissan. The former two-level, as from a spacecraft, instruments were replaced by a dashboard with an ordinary pointer speedometer - the same for the Kisks crossover. And even on the nose now there is some semblance of a traditional radiator grill! And the only detail of the image that immediately gives out electromobility is the transmission joystick.

An unexpected place for the rear sofa heating buttons? But in plain sight

Nissan did not make significant changes to the platform, so the distance between the axles (2700 mm) and the size of the battery were preserved, although the hatchback itself became two to three centimeters longer, wider and taller. The most important change in the powertrain is once again the improved composition of the cathode inside the lithium-ion cells, as well as a more efficient way of packing them into a common housing. Compared to the previous 24 kWh base battery, the energy density has almost doubled: the same Leaf unit can pump 40 kWh.

The traction electric motor is now allowed not to be ashamed of its maximum capabilities: the power has increased from 80 to 110 kW, and the torque - from 280 to 320 Nm. And immediately it became more fun. Let one hundred and fifty horsepower per one and a half tons of curb weight not God knows what, but within the limits of Japanese road etiquette, the Leaf accelerates encouragingly. It's not Tesla yet, but the acceleration and traction control are already at the level of a solid golf hatchback with a two-liter diesel engine. And only the maximum speed is still limited at around 144 km / h.

The EM57 electric motor migrated from its predecessor with minor changes in the control electronics and noise insulation. The basic on-board charger for the home network still has a power of 3 kW (it takes 16 hours to replenish 100% charge), an optional 6.6 (charging will last eight hours). Battery warranty, as before, eight years or 160 thousand kilometers

In my memory, the Japanese for the first time ventured to let foreign journalists onto local public roads, but they immediately balanced their generosity with samurai discipline: don't break the line, don't overtake the leader, don't change the lane and generally “use the ProPilot mode”.

The serial Nissan autopilot has a semi-official index of 1.0, that is, it can already drive on the highway on its own within the same lane, but it is still not recommended to take your hands off the steering wheel. The Leaf keeps the lane and pace well, stops flawlessly, gets under way on its own in a traffic jam and helps a lot to keep the markings, especially when, out of habit, you always climb into the next lane with the left side.

In Yokohama, I also managed to ride a prototype with the ProPilot 3.0 system, but this is a separate story. And where you need to steer yourself, the Leaf, alas, is controlled without a light, despite the fact that the suspension and steering slightly reconfigured: the steering wheel is still synthetic and empty. The brake pedal is also the usual "artificial" force for electric vehicles, but the main driving impression is the mode in which you do not need to touch the brake at all.

The Leaf got the ability to intensively decelerate under the throttle release with the help of regenerative braking three years ago, when the B mode appeared in the transmission, but now there is also an e-Pedal button next to the selector, which activates the “one-pedal” control. In this mode, the Leaf with the released accelerator not only recuperatively slows down, developing a deceleration of up to 0.2g, but at some point activates the standard brake system, lights up the brake lights and allows the car to stop smoothly without touching the brake pedal. Pressed - went, released - stopped, "on" - "off", what could be easier?

E-Pedal is activated by the button near the transmission selector, the button next to it is the ProPilot Park car park, which does not require any intervention from the driver, but is guided only by the marking lines

It is clear that both autopilot, and all driver's assistants, and e-Pedal are introduced by Nissan with an eye on the aging Japanese population, because when controlling the speed "with one pedal" the risk of pressing the gas instead of the brake is much less, and this is one of the most frequent causes of fatal accidents in Japan. In addition, the "e-pedal", minimizing free runs, allows you to even more efficiently convert and collect back into the battery kinetic energy, increasing the power reserve. And in this matter, any crumbs are important.

The ready platform and unification made the new Leaf cheaper than the old one: in its main market in the United States, an electric car with a 40-kilowatt battery and advanced equipment will cost $ 690 less than a previous generation car with an optional 30-kilowatt battery! Prices start at $ 30,000, about $ 4,000 below the average car price in America. Although it is still a lot, because for similar money they sell there, for example, Nissan Murano or Mercedes CLA, but given the good equipment and electromobility tax preferences, the Leaf looks very interesting. At the same time, it is $ 5,000 cheaper than the Tesla Model 3 (although the start of real sales is indecently delayed) or the Chevrolet Bolt. And this is exactly what Nissan is counting on, because the comparison in terms of the main electromobility characteristics will no longer be in favor of the Japanese.

Because of the same old platform, Nissan cannot yet offer a comparable range. In the passport data, the Leaf promises 400 km on the Japanese JC08 cycle, which is distinguished by a very peaceful nature of the movement. But in Europe, according to the NEDC cycle, which is also very far from real operation, Nissan already indicates 378 km, and in America, according to the EPA standard, only 150 miles, or 240 km. By comparison, the Tesla Model 3, offering the choice between a 50 or 75 kWh battery, claims 220-310 miles, while the Chevrolet Bolt (60 kWh) claims 240 miles.

To pack a larger battery in the Leaf would have to reshape the floor, which would affect the price, and Nissan simply doesn't have the required battery yet. Initially, the Renault-Nissan alliance was going to provide itself with lithium-ion batteries on its own, for which in 2007 it created a joint venture AESC with NEC, but both the price and the characteristics of what it turned out at some point ceased to meet expectations, so this summer the alliance sold its 50 percent stake to the Chinese and went out of business. In the near future, LG Chem will start supplying batteries for Nissan, but LG will enter the Leaf e-Plus market with a new 60 kilowatt battery only at the end of 2018, but for now it will squeeze all the juice out of an AESC battery.

There is one more important circumstance that predetermines the fate of the Leaf dynasty. To confront Tesla electric vehicles, the Renault-Nissan alliance is preparing a completely new platform- With four-wheel drive and rear independent suspension, with the ability to place a large battery under the floor and use powerful electric motors. This architecture has already been shown at the Tokyo Auto Show under the guise of a 435-horsepower IMx concept crossover, but in fact it allows for electric vehicles and the size of a Leaf, and even more compact. Therefore, for now, everything goes to the fact that in five years Nissan will release the super-progressive Leaf III, about which corporate speechwriters can calmly declare that it is an electric car with a capital letter E.

But what if we supplement the Leaf with a "travel extension" with an on-board gas generator? The question is not idle, because Nissan has been offering e-Power units for the Note hatchback and the Serena minivan in Japan since 2017. The principle of the device is almost like that of the Chevrolet Volt hybrid car: a three-cylinder 1.2 motor rotates only the generator, and the wheels are driven exclusively by an electric motor. Nissan denies the presence of a mechanical connection between the internal combustion engine and the wheels. Perhaps the Leaf e-Power would find its niche, but the current platform does not allow such a hybrid.

And the Leaf II all this time will win back buyers not so much from other electric cars, as from “non-electric vehicles” - from traditional cars with internal combustion engines and from hybrid vehicles. It is not without reason that Nissan boasts that it was able to six times - up to 6.4% - increase the share of buyers who purchase Leaf by handing it in to trade-in. Toyota hybrids Prius.

And of course, it is very interesting to see how all this will work in Russia. The coming 2018 is definitely not the best time to launch an electric car in our market, if only because this fall the Customs Union canceled zero rates on the import of electric vehicles, and the State Duma refused to exempt electric vehicles from transport tax. However, Nissan says that recently the entire Russian office has been working precisely to ensure that the Leaf appears in showrooms - this is an image project. So, most likely, the new Leaf will still get to us, but how far it will go is another question.

Blue button

I realized that Nissan's autopilot program was all right when Tetsuya Ijima turned to me and started gesturing briskly. For a Japanese, this is not at all a typical manner of conversation. And even more so for the Japanese who drives the unmanned Infiniti Q50 ProPilot 3.0 prototype. Ijima-san was driving in the front, and I was in the back left. At that moment we, it seems, were overtaking someone on the highway.

P Later I was warned: to publish photos of an expressive engineer at the wheel is not a very good idea, because the Tokyo police allow testing drones on the streets of the city only on the condition that the driver keeps his hands outstretched in front of the steering wheel with his palms up all the time. But I nevertheless decided to hope that the Tokyo police do not read Soviet newspapers in the mornings, and that such a mise-en-scene can only be interpreted in one key: with drones, everything is going as it should.

For those who have forgotten, I will remind you that a series of systemic scandals that have covered Japanese industrial corporations has greatly slowed down local technological progress. Toyota burned out on uncontrolled acceleration, Takata on self-detonating airbags, Mitsubishi on true fuel consumption, Kobe Steel on low-grade metal, and Nissan (just now!) On unfair control of defects. After all this, in any situations that relate to quality, safety or innovation, the Japanese blow not so much on water, but even on an empty glass. Therefore, while Tesla, Mercedes and BMW are launching serial self-driving complexes, Nissan and Toyota sit in prototypes with their palms stretched out to the steering wheel. And the goal announced by the government two years ago is to release an autonomous taxi on the streets of Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics - carmakers are now commenting evasively: maybe yes, maybe not. Nissan, however, has not yet refused promises, and the emancipation of the Nissan engineer speaks of this especially eloquently.

It seems to me that Ijima-san only really got distracted from the conversation once, when the Infiniti entered the freeway through the automated toll booth gates. This is the most difficult maneuver, at least in Tokyo conditions. Highways here are laid above the streets and are often devoid of long acceleration lanes - incoming cars climb up the ramp and, after a short take-off run, merge into the stream. For the autopilot, this means that first you need to get into the cramped gate of the entrance post, gain speed on a narrow and often curved rise, look behind the separation fence, synchronize with the flow rate, aim - and safely wedge into the gap between the cars.

The task is not an easy one, therefore, for example, the Highway Teammate complex, which Toyota is preparing for 2020, is activated only after passing the barrier and turns off immediately after leaving through it. But Nissan drove journalists both through the streets and along the highways in a completely unmanned mode: the Q50 itself passed traffic lights and pedestrian crossings, turned itself, and passed the barriers and ramps. And he did it like a hussar. I had to ride unmanned prototypes that behaved like a driver with a month of experience: I'd rather stand there while everyone else drove by. But ProPilot is more like a Moscow taxi driver: he drove onto the highway with acceleration, with an impudent thrust into the free window between the cars and accentuated braking at the bumper of the car in front. On the Moscow Ring Road, I would pass for one of my own.

At intersections, the dashboard turns into a screen that broadcasts a picture from the front camera, along which the electronics build their "picture of the world". Small red circle - recognized traffic light

This is the so-called fourth level of autonomy, two steps higher than the production ProPilot, which is equipped with the new Leaf. The driver just needs to drive in the address of the destination, switch the "automatic" to Drive and press the blue button on the steering wheel. Actually, Tetsuya Ijima did just that, and I am willing to believe that it was not a production. After all, it happens that after the drone is a car with a prompter operator who is ready to insure it through remote control. Our Infiniti was also supported by Nissan Not, but without the “interception group”. “For cover from accidental accidents,” the Japanese explained to me. They say that repairing a rear bumper with fifteen cameras, radars, scanners and sonars is a little more expensive than a regular one.

Infiniti is bristling from all sides: 39 environment monitoring devices! This is because Nissan relies only on on-board vision systems and drives without prompts from road infrastructure, although there is a special block in Tokyo with “interactive” traffic lights. I was taken on a different route, without them, and the Q50 never stumbled, and in some places even moved faster than the flow: the autopilot algorithm, like Tesla, has a small degree of "tolerance" to speed limits.

The first serial autonomous vehicles will be large and expensive, otherwise they simply will not fit all the necessary equipment. The Infiniti Q50 Hybrid prototype is hung with optics, radars and scanners from head to toe, and in addition, artificial intelligence has taken up almost the entire trunk.

In short, ProPilot already behaves like a rather experienced driver today. But what prevents Nissan from waiting for the scheduled 2020 to launch into the series, and right now to chase competitors? Ijima-san explained that the matter is in Japanese law and that more work needs to be done on the passage of difficult interchanges, narrow streets in the center of cities and on the recognition of animals: one of the prototypes has already survived a collision with a deer on a country road. More precisely, he did not survive, as did the deer. That is why, by the way, the Japanese are in no hurry to put journalists behind the wheel of drones. But from the gestures and posture of Tetsuya Ijima, I realized that this moment was not far off.

The presented car is American, in the configuration S. Silver color, year of manufacture 2014, mileage 53188 km, TCP is available.

Battery checked - SOH 85%, not broken, not painted, minor scratches and chips - the condition of the body and paintwork 4+. Installed summer tires 2017 Bridgestone.

Electric transport is not only the transport of the future, it is already a reality of today. The best car in 2011 and the best-selling electric car is the Nissan Leaf. Nissanists were able to "get" into the right audience. Instead of pinpoint corporate image purchases by state and environmental organizations, they preferred to appeal to people whose lifestyle is focused on improving their own health and supporting the environment.

Chrome-plated door handles, dark fabric interior, nap interior mats, ABS, EBD, ASR, front airbags, side airbags, curtains, help when starting off on the rise, isofix, immobilizer, tire pressure monitoring system, cruise control, smart key, Start / stop button, regenerative braking, AM / FM / AUX / USB / Bluetooth audio system, audio preparation, rear view camera, multifunction steering wheel, electric mirrors, power windows, lights and signaling devices, air conditioning, heater, heated seats and steering wheel.

The heart of the car is lithium-ion batteries and an electric motor with a capacity of 80 kWh (109 hp), which, unlike combustion engines of similar power, develops a maximum thrust of 280 N , 5-liter V6 petrol engine.

You start to love the Nissan Leaf along the way. It is comfortable and convenient to move around in it, even if the ride is a short sprint with numerous rearrangements. The battery, integrated into the frame at the bottom of the body, provides a low center of gravity and, as a result, improves the maneuverability of the electric vehicle.

If you use a regular household outlet, the Leaf takes about eight hours to recharge overnight. With daily use and charging the battery from the home power grid, the batteries will last for at least 250-300 thousand km of run.

The electric car does not require maintenance of the engine and fuel system, does not need to change oil and filters, spark plugs and valves. Only the chassis requires periodic inspection (it is the same as in a conventional car with an internal combustion engine). Reference measurements are sufficient for the batteries.

Where to buy Nissan Leaf in Russia? You just need to contact Romanov Motors, the rest will be done by the company's employees. Machines are delivered to order from the USA or Europe.

Where will my electric vehicle be serviced? Since the car is not officially supplied to the Russian Federation, we do not give a guarantee for it. BUT you can conclude an agreement for Maintenance and repair your electric car under an extended warranty for 3 years in any city where there is technical centers companies.

Where to refuel an electric car? This electric car is fully compatible with the Shuko standard, which means that you can refuel it at any public electric station or from any household outlet that can withstand a load of 16A.

How will the car behave in winter? All machines are adapted for winter operation. Naturally, at subzero temperatures, your mileage on a single charge will be less than in summer. On average, losses are no more than 20%.

How to buy a custom-made Nissan electric car?

Step 1. Leave a request on the website, or by phone to the manager. Indicate how you can be contacted.

Step 2. The manager agrees on the equipment and color, and we will select a car for you.

Step 3. You conclude a supply contract and make an advance payment of 10%, after which we check the legal purity of the electric vehicle and reserve it for you (~ 7-14 days)

Step 4. You pay 70% surcharge and expect your electric car (~ 45-50 days)

Step 5. The car is delivered to the Russian Federation and arrives at customs in the Russian Federation, the car goes through customs clearance and is installed by GLONASS, after which it is handed over to you with a set of documents in exchange for the remaining 20%.

Just 5 steps - and you are the owner of a wonderful electric Nissan car.

At Romanov Motors you can purchase electrical equipment on credit or lease. You can buy an electric car Nissan Leaf by clicking the "buy" button or by calling our managers. We make delivery in Moscow, Sochi and throughout Russia. An electric car is the best means of transportation in ecologically clean areas. For the whole electric transport a proprietary warranty is provided.

According to the classification of the Japanese corporation, the Nissan Leaf is the company's first global electric vehicle, and indeed in the world. However, it can be safely called the first people's electric car. The car is not only sold all over the world, but also sold in thousands of copies.

Despite the fact that officially in Russia, new Leafs are not for sale, the car is very popular with us and is sold quite smartly. Therefore, it seems that the Nissan Leaf review will be of interest to the widest circle of motorists.

Model history

Electric vehicles have been serially produced in the world for over 100 years. It is recorded that as early as 1910, about 7,000 electric taxis were operating in New York. Also at the beginning of the century, electric pickups and electric delivery vans were produced.

Electric cars were produced throughout the 20th century. I think everyone remembers electric cars on golf courses. Well, I think everyone has seen our electric cars at train stations and electric forklifts in warehouses. However, electric cars could not at least somehow squeeze cars with internal combustion engines. Here, both a low power reserve and a long charging time, all this excluded, more or less, equal competition.

Electric golf cart

However, the rapid development of technology in the 21st century and, above all, the emergence of new, more capacious storage batteries and new technologies for fast charging made possible a breakthrough in the field of electric vehicles and made it possible for them to compete with cars equipped with internal combustion engines.

At the beginning of the 21st century, many companies immediately brought their serial electric vehicles to the market, they had different technical characteristics and, most importantly, different price, but only the Nissan corporation managed to achieve such a price-quality ratio, which made their car a world bestseller.

Leaf's story began at the end of 2009. It was at this time that the public first saw him at the Tokyo Motor Show. The sale of the car began as early as next 2010.

Initially, Japanese electric hatchbacks were produced at a plant in Oppama, Japan. However, as demand grew, the car began to be produced in Smyrna, Tennessee and the English Sunderland.

Nissan Leaf first generation

V 2011 year, the car won the prestigious title European Car of the Year. In the same year, the car became the World Car of the Year.

The 1st generation of the Japanese electric car, factory index ZE0, stood on the assembly line until 2017.

Formally, the car did not survive a single restyling, but at the same time there was a deep modernization of the technical part, which, in terms of the scale of updates, can be compared with restyling.

The first modernization of the Leaf took place in April. 2013 of the year. Then the engine EM61 was replaced by a motor EM57. During this update, the power of the power unit remained the same as it was, but the range on a single charge increased from 200 to 228 km. This was achieved by installing a new generation of batteries on the car.

All Leafs equipped with the EM57 engine have now received a new factory index - AZe0. That is, such an index was worn by all electric vehicles after 2012.

The next upgrade took place in February 2014 of the year. Then the next generation batteries appeared on the car. These batteries did not add to the range of the car, but they significantly increased their durability.

Third modernization electric car Nissan Leaf, survived at the end 2015 of the year. Then the car again received a new generation of batteries. By the way, it is this generation, according to their reliability, is considered the best of all the batteries that were installed on a Japanese electric car.

Well, the last one, fourth modernization passed at the very end 2015 of the year. Then new ones appeared on the car. 30s kilowatt batteries that allowed Lif to pass on one charge already 280 km. However, the battery life dropped noticeably, almost to the level of the first generation batteries.

Difference of modification Ze0 from АZe0

Separately, it is necessary to dwell on the question of what else, besides engines, are the modifications of Ze0 different from AZe0? First of all, the charging module from the trunk was moved under the hood of the electric vehicle. Thanks to this, it became real in the trunk, a lot more space. In addition, a heated steering wheel, two-zone climate control appeared on the cars, and the charging cord began to be locked.

Appearance

It seemed like a remnant biodesign, a thing of the past, however, for Leaf, in 2009, just such a design style was chosen. And in this the designers of the Japanese concern guessed it. The car looked as it should have looked like an alien from the future, which positioned the world's first global electric car.

Front view of Nissan Leaf

The front of the car looks very unusual. She does not have a radiator grill in the usual sense of the word. The Nissan Leaf's headlights are huge, spanning almost the entire length. engine compartment and are located along the entire hood. In addition, they have a convex pyramidal design and rise above the plane of the front of the machine.

By the way, such a design was chosen not only for the sake of attractiveness, it also carries the function of reducing aerodynamic drag, which in turn adds mileage to an electric car. So, the convex headlights at Leaf are not at all accidental, they are the ones that divert the aerodynamic flow from the protruding rear-view mirrors. In addition to them, small convex guides located in the area of ​​the wipers are also responsible for the distribution of the air flow. These elements are responsible for the direction of the air flow over the wipers, than they add somewhere around 7% of the mileage.

From the side, the car looks like a regular drop of water with clear semicircles of the wheel arches.

Side projection Nissan Leaf

In principle, the rear of the Leaf is similar to that of a regular sedan. However, even here the Japanese designers managed to surprise. First of all, the rear optics, located on the racks, which has long been out of focus, the designers made not of standard red fiberglass, but transparent. Inside, all elements of the headlights were made of silver plastic.

The stern of the car with developed convex wings also looks very interesting. The bumper, of course, does not have any hint of exhaust system... However, at the same time, aerodynamic elements are made in its lower part to regulate the air flow under the bottom of the car.

Rear of Nissan Leaf

Body dimensions Nissan Leaf

The dimensions of the electric vehicle correspond to the dimensions of a conventional golf-class hatchback, specifically:

• Length - 4445 mm;
• Width - 1770 mm;
• Height - 1545 mm;
• Nissan Leaf clearance - 160 mm;
• The wheelbase is 2700 mm.

Interior

When the Japanese electric hatchback arrived in 2010, its interior felt truly cosmic. A two-story digital instrument panel, a gearbox joystick, a large 7-inch LCD display on the center console, back in 2010, all this was the prerogative of much more expensive cars.

Front panel Nissan Leaf

Even today, it looks more than modern. Except that, wheel, looks a little old-fashioned.

As mentioned above, the dashboard is made in two floors. Above is a small information display with warning lamp icons and a digital speedometer. In addition, an econometric meter is also located at the top, which allows the driver to understand how economically he drives.

The lower monitor displays data from the on-board computer. In addition, on the "second" floor there are scales for battery temperature, calculating the mileage on the remaining charge, an indicator of the remaining battery capacity and a scale for charge consumption.

Like most golf-class cars, the back seat of a Japanese electric car can comfortably seat three passengers.

First generation Nissan Leaf interior

The hatchback's trunk volume is not as large as that of its competitors with internal combustion engines and is, depending on the configuration, from 330-370 liters. This is quite natural, since the batteries and systems for their management are located at the back of the car.

The trunk of the first generation Nissan Leaf

However, unlike many hybrid and electric competitors, rear backrests The bodice folds out in a 60:40 ratio, which significantly increases the volume and dimensions of the cargo compartment of an electric vehicle. In this case, it will be 680 liters.

Roof rack for Nissan Leaf 2014 with unfolded rear row seat

Options and electronic assistants

The premium segment, among electric vehicles, is firmly occupied by the cars of the American company Tesla. Therefore, the Japanese did not have the task of saturating their car with electronics at the level of the American electric car. But golf-class cars equipped with standard internal combustion engines are quite real competitors and the Leaf should not have less electronics than theirs. And there are really no less of them.

Options Nissan Leaf first generation

And more specifically, on the first generation Leaf, you can find the following options and electronic systems:

• LED front and rear lights;
• Automatic switching system high beam with light sensor;
• Rear mirrors with electric drive and heating;
• Start / Stop button;
• Leather interior;
• Keyless entry system to the salon;
• Heated steering wheel;
• EBD brake force distribution system;
• BAS auxiliary braking system;
• Lane control system LKA;
• ESP stability control system;
• TCS anti-slip system;
• HAC lift off assistance system;
• Cruise control;
• Frontal collision avoidance system;
• Dual-zone climate control;
• BOSE Energy Efficient Series audio system;
• Surround cameras;
• Solar panel in the rear spoiler.

Naturally, most of these systems are available only in expensive trim levels of the Japanese electric hatchback, but this will be described specifically in the corresponding section.

Security systems

The electronic safety systems of an electric vehicle are described above. However, in addition to them, you can also find pillows on the car. There are not so many of them as you might expect, but also not a few, there are 6 pillows on the Leaf:

• 2 for the driver and passenger;
• 2 side airbags;
• 2 inflatable curtains.

Specifications

Perhaps this is the most important part of the review, because the most interesting and important features for future buyers are hidden under the hood of Leaf.

The first Nissan Leaf engine with factory index EM61 from 2010 to 2012.

Two electric motors were installed on the first Leaf during its production. Both motors are synchronous three-phase with liquid cooling, have the same power - 80 kW / 109 hp. With. The first motor has a factory index EM61, it was installed on electric vehicles produced from 2010 to 2012. The second is the factory index EM57 stands on Leafs, which were produced from 2012 to 2017.

The second EM57 electric motor was installed from 2012-2017

But the most important feature of any electric vehicle is, of course, its batteries and their durability. On Japanese electric hatchbacks, you can find batteries of as many as four generations, three of 24 kilowatts and one generation of 30 kilowatts. These batteries have different capacities and, accordingly, different power reserves.

All 24 kW batteries have a cruising range of 200 - 220 km. But the power reserve of 30 kilowatt batteries is higher, somewhere around 280 km.

Rechargeable batteries, for an electric vehicle, lithium-ion, packed in a sealed case. They are located under the floor of the body and under the rear seats. The total weight of the batteries of an electric vehicle is 300 kg.

As for durability, then the least reliable batteries are the first generation, that is, installed on machines from 2010 - 12 years. When buying a car of these years of release, you need to be prepared that you will have to change batteries in the very near future, which is not cheap at all.

The second most reliable are the batteries of the second generation, they were installed on cars produced from November 2012 to March 2013.

Well, the third generation is the most reliable. It was installed on Leafs, which were produced from April 2013 to February 2014.

It should be noted that the newest 30 kilowatt batteries that were installed on electric vehicles produced from December 2015 to the end of 2017 are comparable in reliability with the batteries of the very first generation. This is due to the fact that the technology of these batteries has not yet been fully developed.

Battery pack Nissan Leaf 1st generation

From other technical characteristics, it should be noted that the front suspension on the car is independent, such as MacPherson, while the rear is semi-independent, based on a torsion beam. The brakes on all wheels are disc, and both the rear and front discs are ventilated.

The wheels on early electric vehicles were 16 inches in diameter. However, since 2015, 17-inch rims have appeared on the Leafs.

Interior section of Nissan Leaf

In addition to marching batteries, the Japanese electric hatchback has a 12-volt battery, which is customary for cars with internal combustion engines, under the hood. Many will ask the question, why is he? This motor is needed for auxiliary systems such as interior lighting and braking systems. By the way, this battery is recharged from the cruise batteries of the electric vehicle.

In addition to the model of batteries, the durability of their work is also influenced by how the machine was operated, or rather, how and how often its batteries were charged. The bodice can be charged in two ways : slow, or fast through the port CHAdeMO.

CHAdeMO port is on the left

The CHAdeMO port is located on the left, and under the red cover on the right, there is a standard, "slow" charging port.

Slow way considered the most gentle on batteries. Charging an electric vehicle exclusively this way will help your batteries last much longer. However, slow charging takes time. It will take at least 6 o'clock.

If you need to charge the batteries quickly, then you need super-powerful charging, which is carried out through the CHAdeMO port. In this case, depending on the capacity of the charging station, 80% of the car can be charged from 30 minutes up to an hour. If you charge up to 100% through this port, then it will take much more time, so charging 100% through Shademo simply does not make sense.

Fast charging Nissan Leaf via CHAdeMO port

Charging indicator the batteries of the car, in addition to the instrument panel, are also located under the windshield and consists of three blue LEDs. As charging progresses, the indicators turn on with a continuous steady light. When the machine is fully charged, all three lights will remain steady without blinking.

Many people ask the question, where is the guarantee that the electric car left by you on charging will be charged and it will not be turned off by the owner of another Leaf by charging his car instead of yours? Such a guarantee exists. The fact is that the connected port is not connected like an outlet at home; there is also a lock in the charging gun, which can only be turned off from the car's key fob.

What else do Leaf owners need to know?

First of all, ultra-fast charging is bad for batteries. The fact is that with this type of charging, the batteries heat up and become unbalanced. AND manufacturers recommend at least a super-fast type of charging alternate with a regular, slow one. Ultra-fast charging through the CHAdeMO port is especially harmful in hot weather in summer.

However, ultra-fast charging is not always harmful. If it is used in winter in frosty conditions, it is, on the contrary, useful for batteries, as they heat up before starting to operate the machine.

In addition to the usual charging from an external network, the electric car also recharges the batteries by means of recuperation during braking. What does it mean? This means that during braking, the batteries are recharged, this process is called recuperation. The fact that recuperation is in progress will be signaled to the driver by the corresponding indicator on the instrument panel.

Nissan Leaf solar panels

Besides recuperation during braking, the car is also recharged from solar panels located in the rear spoiler.

Driving modes on the Nissan Leaf

Except all kinds technical aspects the vehicle's range is influenced by the driver's mode and driving style. In total, an electric car has three driving modes:

• DRIVE;
• B (Break Recuperation);

DRIVE, this is the standard driving mode, uneconomical, that is, this mode uses all the engine power, but at the same time the range suffers. It is in this mode that the driver can rush first from the traffic light and squeeze out all the power of the hatchback. If you need to get maximum mileage on one charge, then in this case you need to use the mode EKO... In this mode, the car becomes much dumber, but the battery consumes much less energy.

Mode B(Break Recuperation) is also designed for better battery charging, in it recuperation is more intensive. It differs from the EKO mode in that in this mode you can also use all the engine power.

Well, the last thing I want to tell you about the driving style. For more mileage, the driving style should be as smooth as possible. In this case, it is advisable not to exceed the maximum speed of 60 km / h.

As with cars with internal combustion engines, the country driving style is the most economical, however, provided that it does not exceed 60 km / h. That is, in order to drive the maximum distance outside the city, the driver needs to turn on the cruise control at a speed of 60 km / h and the ECO mode. In this case, it is possible to drive somewhere 200 km or even a little more.

Nissan Leaf trim levels

In total, 10 complete sets are provided for the Japanese electro hatchback:

• X enchante rotating passenger seat;
• X enchante driving helper Autech drive gear type e;
• X Aero Style
• G enchante rotating passenger seat;
• G enchante driving helper Autech drive gear type e;
• G Aero Style;
• S Aero Style;

Let's consider each of them in more detail.

Package X

This is the basic configuration of the Leaf... In it, the car will have:

• LED headlights;
• BAS auxiliary braking system;
• ESP vehicle stability control system;
• Anti-slip system TCS.

Instead of climate control, the car will have a banal air conditioner. The car does not have cameras in this configuration. However, the LCD and navigation system is on the machine already in the database.

Package X enchante rotating passenger seat

In this configuration, cars will have all the systems of the previous configuration, as well as additionally:

• Winter configuration with heated steering wheel;
• Light-alloy wheels;
• Cruise control

Package contents X enchante driving helper Autech drive gear type e

This is practically the previous configuration, but without the winter version.

X Aero Style Options

In addition to the internal equipment, this configuration has changes in technology. First of all, stabilizers appeared in the wheel suspension. lateral stability.

Of the equipment items, the cars will have:

• In addition to heating the steering wheel, cars will also have heated rear seats;
• LKA traffic control system;
• Climate control.

Package G

This is a much richer package than the previous three. The machines in this configuration will also have all the systems of the previous configurations, and in addition:

• Cruise control;
• Parking assistance system;
• Rear view camera.

Nissan Leaf 2015 / АZe0 / G / without run

Options G enchante rotating passenger seat

The main difference between this configuration and the previous one is the presence of a winter package, such as heated steering wheel and heated front seats. In addition, the machines will have fog lights and premium audio system BOSE Energy Efficient Series.

Options G enchante driving helper Autech drive gear type e

And this is, in fact, a disabled vehicle equipment. In it you will find a swivel-retractable passenger seat, as well as a slight change in the location of the machine controls.

Options G Aero Style

This package is very similar to X Aero Style. In this configuration, anti-roll bars will also appear at the front and rear.

In addition to the absence of all assistance systems for people with disabilities, this configuration will include:

• High beam automatic switching system with light sensor;
• Heated steering wheel;
• Heated rear seats;
• Brake force distribution system EBD;
• LKA lane control system;
• Hill start assist system HAC;
• Frontal Collision Prevention System;
• Climate control;
• BOSE Energy Efficient Series audio system;
• Solar panel in the rear spoiler.

Package S

One of the top trim levels of the Japanese electric car. Cars with this configuration will have:

• Heated front and rear seats;
• Heated steering wheel;
• Keyless entry system to the salon;
• EBD brake force distribution system;
• Additional braking system BAS;
• LKA road marking control system;
• ESP stability control system;
• TCS wheel slip prevention system;
• Hill start assist system HAC;
• Frontal collision avoidance system;
• Dual-zone climate control.

S Aero Style Options

This is practically the same configuration as the previous one, the differences will be only external. In this configuration, the cars will have a front spoiler and light-alloy wheels.

What's on what?

Nissan Leaf is a very popular model in our country and there are models of all years of production and all generations on the market. Consider what prices are offered by sellers.

So, the first generation of the first Leaf was produced from 2010 to 2012. These cars can be purchased from us at prices in the region of 500,000 rubles. The mileage of these cars is within 50,000 km. So they and even their batteries can be considered almost new.

Cars of the second generation, produced in 2012 - 2013, are sold in Russia at a slightly higher price and their prices are in the range of 500 - 750,000 rubles. Although individual copies with a mileage of 70 - 100,000 km can be bought for 400,000 rubles.

Prices for third-generation electric vehicles start at 600,000 rubles, the upper price level is somewhere in the region of 800,000 rubles. True, here you can find practically new cars with mileage of up to 10,000 km.

The bodices of the last fourth generation are naturally the most expensive, they are practically new cars. Unless, of course, they had not had an accident before. These cars can be bought at prices ranging from 700 to 1,000,000 rubles.

By the way, those that have already appeared on the market are sold no less than 1,800,000 rubles.

It is definitely worth noting that the degradation of batteries directly depends on the mileage of the car. There is a battery status gauge on the dashboard of an electric vehicle. This scale consists of 12 "sleepers" or marks. Completely new batteries have a 12 "sleepers" condition. As the batteries wear out, the number of sleepers on this panel decreases. So, according to operating experience, after 50,000 km of run, one sleeper on the panel disappears, after a run of 100,000 km, another one disappears.

Dashboard Nissan Leaf 2010-2017

So, electric cars with a mileage of 100,000 km are quite affordable. Moreover, it should be borne in mind that after 100,000 km of run, battery degradation is slower.

Video review Nissan Leaf 2013

In 1947, with the launch of Tama. This groundbreaking four-seater electric vehicle was available in two variants: as a passenger car and as a van.

The Tama could drive 65 kilometers when fully charged. The designers placed the battery compartment on the sides at the bottom of the car. For quick and easy battery change, guides were provided, with the help of which the batteries were pulled out to the side.

After Tama, Nissan had 7 more electric vehicle concepts, but none of them went into production. In 2008, the company begins work on a prototype of a new engine powered by a lithium-ion battery. NUVU technology will be the foundation upon which the Nissan LEAF will later be built.

See what the first electric cars looked like. There is even a milk tanker and a lunar rover!

We will tell you what the world of electric transport was like before the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster.

Before Tesla

In 2010, when the all-electric LEAF went on sale, no other manufacturer had a similar car. Tesla has shown the first prototype of the Model S only a year - it will appear on the roads only in 2012.

[In March 2008, Tesla began mass production of the all-electric Tesla Roadster under a contract with Lotus. According to the terms of the contract, a total of 2,500 electric cars were produced, so the project cannot be called a mass project].

The product of the Chinese car industry, the all-electric BYD E6, will not be released until a year later, in 2011. Renault Zoe - in December 2012. Although the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV will be the discovery of 2012, it cannot be considered a direct competitor to the LEAF: it is a plug-in hybrid.

And the hybrid Chevrolet Volt, the sales of which also started in 2010, and with which auto journalists compared the Nissan LEAF for the first time, in the end did not become a serious competitor for Nissan on the world stage.

The early launch of an all-electric vehicle put Nissan at the forefront of an emerging industry. While other manufacturers first developed an electric car and then developed an electric car at the right price, the Nissan LEAF was making a name for itself.

Three generations of Nissan LEAF

At the start of sales, Nissan CEO Carl Ghosn told The New York Times: "We will make sure that in the markets to which the car will be supplied, the consumer has the basic infrastructure that allows him to drive safely and not worry."

This is how it began first generation LEAF. Then the car could not boast of a large power reserve: according to various estimates, the car drove on a single charge from 117 to 175 kilometers.

An innovative solution for that time was two charging sockets - for direct and alternating current. Charger plugged into a regular power outlet and charged the car in 8 hours. Fast Charging restored 80% battery capacity in 30 minutes. The manufacturer has guaranteed that 70-80% of the battery capacity will be maintained for 10 years.

Second generation Nissan LEAF was released in 2017. The car was equipped with a ProPilot driving system and an electronic pedal (a system that allows you to adjust the speed only by pressing the accelerator pedal).

When ProPilot was activated, the car could control the distance itself within one lane. ProPilot Park is a self-parking system. It works with four chambers and 12 ultrasonic sensors.

E-Pedal or electronic pedal - a system that allows you to adjust the speed only by pressing the accelerator pedal.

The range of the electric car was increased to 378 kilometers according to the European NEDC rating system and 240 kilometers according to the American EPA. The automaker did not change the charging connector, and due to the larger battery capacity, the fast charge time up to 80% increased to 40 minutes.

Third generation The Nissan LEAF was unveiled in January 2019. The car has received the LEAF e + or LEAF PLUS marking, depending on the market. The novelty was equipped with batteries with a capacity of 64 kW / h, and the power reserve was increased. The electric car will be able to travel up to 363 km on a single charge. The appearance of the Nissan LEAF has not undergone significant changes.

The LEAF is a very popular electric vehicle right now. In March 2019, Nissan LEAF sales exceeded 400,000 units. The company estimates that LEAF owners have driven more than 10 billion kilometers in their vehicles. The Nissan LEAF is available in over 50 markets worldwide. This year, sales will expand to six new markets in Latin America and seven in Asia and Oceania.

Best Selling Electric Vehicle

The first 100 thousand electric vehicles LEAF Nissan was able to sell by 2014. A year later, 200,000 LEAFs were sold worldwide. In 2018, the electric car reached 300,000 sales, and in March 2019 it celebrated its 400,000th.

2018 Nissan LEAF ended in the status of the favorite in the global electric vehicle market. The cumulative sales of the top five models looked like this:

Nissan LEAF: 369 940 cars
Tesla model s: 242,200 cars
BAIC EC-Series: 172 850 cars
Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: 172 640 cars
Chevrolet volt: 171 670 cars

If we evaluate sales by brands, then Nissan with a single model loses to competitors, but still remains in the lead:

BYD: 517,230 cars
Tesla: 500 390 cars
Nissan: 379 910 cars
BAIC: 322,300 cars
Bmw: 251 870 cars

The statistics are taken from various sources and vary somewhat, but this does not distort the general idea of ​​the industry leaders.

5 reasons why LEAF is so popular

Appeared in time

Nissan has released to the world market completely electric car earlier than competitors. The LEAF was immediately sold at a reasonable price with broad specifications.

Price

In 2015, when electric cars began to be actively sold on world markets, the average price tag of the Nissan LEAF was about $ 31,000. Tesla Model 3 in basic configuration(which few people were happy with) cost 35 thousand dollars. The Chevy Bolt was available for $ 37,500.

Taking care of infrastructure

Since the launch of LEAF, Nissan has been actively working with partners to implement the infrastructure for electric vehicles in housing under construction. For example, in August 2011 of the year Nissan and leading California developer City Ventures have agreed that new homes will have electrical wiring for electric vehicles.

Nissan is also working on scaling the charging station network. For example, in 2013, there were about 160 fast charging stations in the United States, and Nissan agreed with partners to build another 500 over the next 18 months.

Reliability

In June 2011, the Nissan LEAF was awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP crash test. It became the first electric vehicle to receive the highest rating in this testing system. In May 2013, Nissan LEAF received the highest IIHS safety rating (Insurance Institute for Road Safety). In 2018, the new generation Nissan LEAF received five stars from Euro NCAP.

No major problems

Nissan has had only one LEAF scandal in 9 years. In 2012, electric vehicle users from hot climates began to complain about reduced travel range. Initially, Nissan did not react in any way to negative reviews then the LEAF owners conducted independent testing.

After that, the automaker did its own tests and found out that the problems with the range are caused by cars with high mileage... Nissan issued an operating manual and later launched a battery exchange program.

Nissan Leaf in Russia

According to the analytical agency AUTOSTAT, at the end of 2018, 144 electric vehicles were registered in Russia, 76 of which were Nissan LEAF.

I bought LEAF in 2018, more out of curiosity. I would like to get acquainted with the innovative car myself. I have a 2013 LEAF. It fits perfectly: I drive no more than 50 kilometers per day, and at night there is an opportunity to charge the car, because I live in my own house.

In 2018, there was practically no infrastructure for electric vehicles in the Moscow region, and little has changed over the year.

On a mixed cycle, a single charge of the LEAF lasts about 100 kilometers. This is in line with the stated figures, taking into account the battery wear of 25%. In the cold season, the power reserve is almost halved, especially if you are in traffic jams.

It takes an average of five hours to fully charge the battery. It is very rare to completely discharge the battery in a day. I charge at night, set the timer so that the car is ready by 7 in the morning.

Photo from Timur's personal archive

Nissan LEAF is the second car in our family. The savings, in comparison with an SUV, are significant - about 5 thousand rubles per gas station per month. In addition, a gasoline car needs frequent maintenance and oil and filter changes.

During operating LEAF did not break down, so I can't say if there are any problems with spare parts (officially Nissan LEAF is not supplied in Russia - editor's note).

I have not had any unusual incidents with the Nissan LEAF. Unless it is interesting to observe the reaction of people at traffic lights - they do not expect such agility from a small car, and even without the roar of the engine.

For those who are going to buy an electric car, I can only advise you to immediately decide where and how they will charge it. In my opinion, electric cars will not soon be popular in our country, so there is no need to wait for the rapid development of infrastructure.

Nissan Leaf in car sharing

Only Sochi had Nissan LEAF in Russian car sharing UrentCar, now it has been removed from the vehicle fleet. An electric car could only be rented by users over 30 years of age and with more than 5 years of driving experience. One minute of rent at first cost 14 rubles, then the price was reduced to 12 rubles.

Carsharing has been operating in Odessa since 2017 MobileCar, in its fleet of about 50 electric vehicles Nissan LEAF. Per-minute, hourly and daily rates are available to users.

Car charging is carried out by the operator. If the car charge is less than 20%, the company must be informed about it. Leaving a car with less than 10% charge is fined.

The service can be used by citizens of Ukraine over the age of 21 with a driving experience of 2 years or more. For foreign citizens, the service is available by agreement with the operator.

Car sharing launched in April 2019 in Georgia AiCar, its fleet consists entirely of electric vehicles: Nissan LEAF and Renault Zoe. The minimum age for registration in the service is 21 years, the minimum driving experience is 2 years.

The cost of the trip is 0.08 lari per minute (approximately 1.95 rubles) plus 0.45 lari (approximately 11 rubles) for each kilometer. Users are given 10 free minutes before starting. The application has a function of building a route to a rental car.

The cars are insured. In the event of an accident, the user pays a deductible and other expenses that are not covered by the insurance policy.

Blue Nissan Leaf on the road

Eighty-six electric Nissan Leaf vehicles are on the road today. The eco-car, as soon as it was born, was awarded two prestigious awards at once: "World Car 2011" and "European Car 2011". It is sold on the planet today by an electric car.

At the first glance at the nissan leaf electric car, you understand that the car is space. But, as the Japanese themselves admitted, be it in their power, Nissan has become different from any model released before. And due to the circumstances, we decided not to be too smart, so as not to meet a misunderstanding of buyers.

The appearance of the Nissan Leaf immediately strikes the stern, which is adorned with long lanterns.

The interior "decoration" of the Nissan Leaf has something similar to existing models, making it recognizable, but a lot of original and new. Designers have found something in between for the interior of a cozy electric car interior.

Considering the size of the wheelbase of the Nissan Leaf - 200 mm, it is clear that Nissan cannot be cramped, although there is not very much room in the "gallery" for tall passengers. The sloping roof structure selects centimeters in height.

It is not very comfortable to sit in the back seat of three because of the high tunnel under your feet. In addition, the space is not given by the one and a half meters width of the Nissan Leaf.

But the front seats are spacious and comfortable (meaning high ceilings).

Despite the apparent inconvenience, the seats in the Nissan Leaf are soft and comfortable. You can speak positively about the entire ergonomics of the cabin. Unless you wish, you can make the driver's seat adjustable in height. Instead, adjust the seat cushion mono angle and adjust the seat (mechanical adjustment). The interior trim of the Nissan Leaf is rustic, so as not to increase the price of the model, which is already expensive. In addition, for the PREMIUM class, to which the nissan electric car belongs, expensive materials are not needed.

Auto gadget

The Nissan Leaf has digital equipment. There is not a single device with old technology.

The dashboard in the Nissan Leaf takes center stage. It is attended by temperature and charge indicators(instead of a speedometer) and a power reserve indicator. There is such an interesting "trick" here, which shows the level used in the given time electric motor power- mending a chain with a running white dot.

A separate Nissan screen displays a clock, thermometer, speedometer, and a rising or falling herringbone indicating the energy being used. Moreover, there can be a lot of them and there is even a competition between the drivers, who will "grow" them more.

Present in Leaf and second color screen which is more functional but less important. It works as a navigator, controls the audio system, in addition, displays graphical information by which the driver judges the condition of the Nissan car, the intensity of recuperation, the level of electricity consumption by the main electrical equipment (climate control, engine, etc.). Also on the Nissan Leaf, the functions of the need for charging and the nearest charging stations are implemented. But, what is relevant for Europe, our warrior, is usually unnecessary.

It is very convenient that with the help of a computer it is installed charge timer... Usually they try to tie it to a cheaper night rate (and again this is for Europe). You can install a program on your computer that will warm up the Nissan Leaf, cool the interior before the owner arrives. All you need to do is to have a smartphone.

Leaf has no gearbox, so joystick it is only necessary to give the command "forward-backward" and select the operating mode (economical or normal). There is only a block in the car that combines the gearbox, investor and electric motor.

It is important that the silent Nissan is equipped with a sound system reminiscent of a whistle so as not to frighten pedestrians. It turns on automatically at a speed of over thirty kilometers, but it is easy to turn it off.

It is important that the Leaf is equipped quite well in the basic configuration, unlike other cars. Of the few options, we can note the solar battery, which compensates for the power consumption for "entertainment" and the signal on the rear spoiler.

Specifications

The heart of this wonderful Nissan Leaf electric vehicle is synchronous three-phase motor, having a power of 80 kW and a torque of 280 Nm. Energy in Nissan supplies the engine lithium ion battery developed by the company together with NEC. Inside each block (there are 48 in total) there are four flat layers giving a total power of 24 kW. This is enough to travel 160 km on the Leaf - quite enough for a day's run of any car. The battery weighs three hundred kilograms.

The compact battery was able to be placed within the wheelbase, under the bottom of the Nissan. By lowering the center of gravity, it was possible to achieve maximum stability of the Nissan Leaf and a smooth ride: at a speed of 60 km / h, when cornering, there is no body roll and there is not even a hint that the car may deviate from the set trajectory.

The vehicle picks up the speed of the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle surprisingly smoothly. How quickly this happens depends on which driving mode is selected. In Eco mode, nothing happens even if the pedal is pressed down. In "Drive" mode, on the other hand, you can fully experience all the dynamics. Acceleration of the Leaf will be rapid, but the range will be slightly reduced.

The platform on which the Leaf is built has McPherson struts in the front and a curling beam in the back.

Stands McPherson

The leather steering wheel in Nissan is tactilely pleasant and fits perfectly in the hands, but almost all the information in the wheel is stolen by the electric power steering. But the reinforcing moment is perfectly tuned, adding confidence on the road.

On the brakes of experts testing Nissan Leaf, the opinion is controversial. It concerns not the fact that the braking efficiency is somewhat reduced by the recuperation system, which converts the braking energy into electricity (this is quite normal), but the low pedal travel.

Aerodynamics

Visibility, acoustic comfort and aerodynamics work together in the Leaf, although aerodynamics are primary, on which efficiency directly depends. The sleek design of Nissan speaks of a low drag coefficient. But the shape of the headlights was also developed so that air flows were diverted from the side mirror so that they could be redirected to the rear spoiler. Not just for beauty and diffuser.

The flat underbody of the Nissan Leaf makes it highly efficient, resulting in a minimum of aerodynamic noise entering the cabin. The visibility from the driver's seat in the Leaf, as a result of the fight against the wind, suffered somewhat: the front struts are wide and excessively heaped back. But about the salon and side mirrors, we can say that they cope with their task perfectly.

Power consumption

The distance covered per charge is 160 km... But, this value strongly depends on the driving style, the temperature "overboard" of the electric vehicle, the intensity of use of the air conditioner and the age of the battery. In urban conditions, a constant seat in traffic jams strongly eats up the battery charge.

They calculated that the cost of one charge is 8 hry. or 32 rubles, which is ten times less than what is required for an electric vehicle with an internal combustion engine (i.e. energy is consumed 3.3 kWh), which corresponds to the operation of three hair dryers.

Car charging

Nissan's charging process is the same as charging other electric vehicles. The Leaf has two ports in front of the hood - for fast charging (at charging stations) and for charging from a household outlet. In the first case, it takes half an hour to charge to 80%, and in the second, it takes eight hours for the battery to fully charge.

The only difference between the Nissan Leaf, according to the manufacturers, is the battery longevity, which should not lose more than 20% over five years of operation, for which it is not necessary to allow it to be completely discharged and not to overuse short charges. If the capacity of the battery drops below the permissible value during the warranty period (five years), the company will replace the battery free of charge.

But, again, this does not apply to us.

Video: Test drive Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf price

This car stands within 35 thousand dollars, but taking into account the subsidies regional and federal, provided by the state, an American buyer, for example, will pay only thirty thousand for it. It is easy to calculate how much it will cost a Russian buyer - from 800,000 rubles, but this is if you buy a new one.

If we take BU, then the average price in Russia 600,000 rubles 2011-2012 years.

In Ukraine, the price of Nissan leaf is on average UAH 642500

Where to buy Nissan Leaf

In Ukraine, Nissan is sold on the website http://ecoist.com.ua/elektromobil-nissan-leaf.htm ... And it is sold officially in Russia, for example, on the website http://auto.drom.ru/nissan/leaf/ , although there are already 50 charging stations in the capital alone. But there is no government support for the program of a private company yet, so it's too early to talk about "clean" cars.

I would like the situation to change, because this electric car of a world brand for adequate money is an electric economy option that many would gladly use. It's not even about ecology, for which we are mentally ready for the time being, but about the economy that drivers are striving for. But, while we are separated from the civilized countries by a deep abyss.

Where can I buy	Price
http://moscow.drom.ru/nissan/leaf/	from 499,000 rubles
http://electricmotorsclub.ru/%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%8C-%D1%8D%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BA% D1% 82% D1% 80% D0% BE% D0% BC% D0% BE% D0% B1% D0% B8% D0% BB% D1% 8C / nissan-leaf /	RUB 1,320,000
http://ecomotors.ru/index.php?productID=1255	RUB 2,990,000
http://www.automotobike.ru/market/nissan/leaf/	from 996,000 rubles
https://www.avito.ru/rossiya/avtomobili/nissan/leaf?f=188_8581b0&s=1	from 370 00 rub

Electric car Nissan Leaf reviews

A car, without exaggeration, is cool, but they will be able to buy nissan in large quantities only when the cost is somehow comparable to the cost of liquid fuel. There are two problems for the consumer - price and charging stations.

Alexander Berezovsky, USA, Stamford

The reason for its popularity is that Nissan is almost an ordinary, in a not frightening sense of the word, car: the trunk (roomy and full-fledged) is in the back, and the mechanisms and engine are in the front. The battery pack breaks the trunk idyll. The absence in it, of any restrictions inherent in other "electric trains", makes it so popular. Well, and the price, which in comparison with Tesla, is less than half. Driving performance is 10-plus, there is enough electronics, as well as a power reserve. With frost resistance is also normal.

Correspondent, tester