| Wani Roslan |
SINCE its December 2010 debut, the Nissan Leaf has become one of the best-selling electric vehicles (EV) in the world – with over 43,000 drivers around the globe choosing the vehicle for its zero-emission of carbon dioxide during driving.
As part of the Nissan A2Z Tour 2016 in Japan, media representatives were given the opportunity to test drive the Nissan Leaf, with the aim of experiencing its technology and performance.
The Nissan Leaf engine is quiet when starting and while driving, yet it still offers strong acceleration. The vehicle is easy to handle – even at sharp corners, and an interesting feature is the slowdown rate when you take your foot off the pedal – it significantly slows down at a better rate than normal vehicles.
Whether driving at 40km/h or 100km/h, the drive feels smooth.
Highlighting the basic EV structure of the Nissan Leaf, it has a high voltage unit that includes an electric motor, inverter and DC/DC converter that has been integrated, resulting in a 30 per cent volume reduction and 10 per cent mass reduction.
The Nissan Leaf has become one of the best-selling electric vehicles (EV) in the world. PHOTOS: WANI ROSLAN
The shift knob of the Nissan Leaf
The current model is about 80kg lighter than the previous model as it uses a combination of integrated functions and lighter parts.
In terms of looks, the exterior is sportier, equipped with trendy LED headlights with its auto-levelling blue reflection LED lights and front fog lights. The interior is chic and elegant, with a straightforward gearshift.
As an EV, the Leaf was developed in accordance with the company’s commitment of using recycled materials as much as possible to minimise environmental impact. It has a long-life charging mode where the battery is charged to 80 per cent to extend its battery life and is also available in any charging mode.
According to the information in the media guidebook, there are at present approximately 400 sales outlets in Japan equipped with quick chargers. To offer even greater convenience and accessibility to Leaf owners, Nissan plans to expand the availability of quick chargers to 700 sales outlets in Japan.
Once the expansion is completed, one-third of dealers will be able to offer quick charging services.
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