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Nissan is bringing an all-electric vehicle—known as the Leaf—to mass market for a reasonable price. The actual price varies according to federal tax credits and any state tax credits available. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is around $33,000. Furthermore, the Nissan Leaf will come in two versions the SV and the SL. From Autoblog Green:

Starting with the base (SV) trim, buyers can expect an abundance of standard features. The SV comes with all of the expected features of a modern car plus an advanced navigation system with Internet / smart phone connectivity which allows the vehicle to be remotely pre-heated and pre-cooled. The advanced navigation system also allows the owner to control car charging features. In addition, the SV comes equipped with Bluetooth connectivity, push button start, satellite radio, stability control, six airbags and a buyer-reassuring three-year roadside assistance plan.

Stepping up to the SL trim, at a price premium of only $940 (MSRP), Nissan adds a few more touches including fog lights, automatic headlights, a rear-view monitor and a solar panel spoiler. The spoiler will not charge the vehicle’s main batteries, but it can be used to trickle charge an accessory battery.

The Nissan Leaf will have a range of about 100 miles per charge, which is based on the LA4 test cycle. According to the EPA, the “‘LA4′ or ‘the city test’ . . . represents city driving conditions.” Darryl Siry via Wired.com criticizes the use of the LA4 test cycle:

Nissan overpromised on the realistic range by consistently quoting a number tied to the most optimistic benchmark, the LA4 cycle. Drivers who stick to stop-and-go traffic on city streets in temperate climates may indeed consistently see 100 miles of range, but most drivers will see significantly less in a mix of city and highway driving. Driving in California, the country’s top market for electric vehicles, involves a lot of time on highways where the 65 mph speed limit is rarely observed. The LA4 cycle Nissan quotes mostly stay below 30 mph with one two-minute “sprint” at 55 mph every 22-minute cycle.

Undoubtedly, the actual driving range of your Leaf will vary according to a number of conditions, so adequate recharging infrastructure will be crucial to offset range anxiety. More on range anxiety via GM-Volt.com:

In 2007 Aerovironment installed a fast charging station in Tokyo to support a group of 93 mile range EVs that made up a test fleet operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Co.

They found that drivers very rarely ventured far from the charging station, and when the EVs were returned to the base all were generally at greater than 50% state of charge (SOC).

When a second further charging station was added, drivers were noted to immediately expand their driving radius. Furthermore when EVs were returned to the base all were at <50% state of charge.

The drivers actually rarely used the distant charger, they just felt more comfortable having it around.

This alteration in behavior objectively demonstrates the reality of range anxiety.

“They mostly didn’t use the second charger,” said Kristen Helsel director-EV solutions at Aerovironment. “They mostly used the first charger. The availability of the second charger made them comfortable to drive (farther).”

This study indicates that a highly developed charging infrastructure will be needed for EVs to achieve widespread penetration. Aerovironment believes consumers will need more than a million public charging stations to support 1 million EVs, Obama’s goal for the US by 2015.

To offset range anxiety, Nissan is working to get quick charging stations established throughout the United States. For example, Nissan is collaborating with eTec and San Diego Gas & Electric to get these quick-charging stations established in California. Furthermore, Nissan will offer roadside assistance, but “AAA could [also] provide roadside electric vehicle charging.” Battery swapping has been implemented in other markets to offset the problem of range. Unfortunately, some believe that battery swapping technology isn’t feasible in the United States. To extend the Leaf’s range, the option of a sizable solar roof to help recharge the battery seems prudent (see the Prius hacks at Solar Electrical Vehicles), but it’s not an option. However, the Leaf will have some solar recharging capacity via a solar panel spoiler. According to Autoblog Green, the “spoiler will not charge the vehicle’s main batteries, but it can be used to trickle charge an accessory battery.” Also, the Leaf will recapture energy via regenerative braking technology, but the “combination of the Leaf’s regenerative braking system and lithium ion battery pack delivers [the] driving range of about [100 miles] — a distance, according to Nissan, that satisfies ‘the regular driving needs of around 70% of the world’s driving public.’”

Before, I wondered if Nissan was going to share its infrastructure with other electric vehicle companies like Tesla and whether the home recharging stations will be universal or specifically tailored for Nissan’s electric vehicles. However, Japanese automakers want to make its EV recharging protocol and technology—or CHAdeMo—the global standard, and “Nissan plans to use CHAdeMo as its fast-charging technology in the United States.” The promotion of one type of EV recharging protocol seems prudent to me, so now I wonder if American electric vehicle manufacturers and other stakeholders will sign onto CHAdeMo. However, “Daimler, Nissan and Renault confirmed . . . a wide-ranging partnership that includes joint development of vehicles — from small cars to light commercial vehicles to possibly luxury vehicles — and technology sharing on engines, batteries and electric cars.” More from Nissan:

Including the $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be fully eligible, the consumer’s after-tax net value of the vehicle will be $25,280. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011 all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780, which includes three years of roadside assistance. Additionally, there is an array of state and local incentives that may further defray the costs and increase the benefits of owning and charging a Nissan LEAF – such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.

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The vehicle at the standard SV trim level is well-equipped with a variety of standard features, including an advanced navigation system and Internet/smart phone connectivity to the vehicle, including pre-heat/pre-cool and charging control. Nissan LEAF is equipped with energy-efficient LED headlights and makes extensive use of recycled and recyclable materials, such as seat fabric, instrument panel materials, and front- and rear-bumper fascias. Other standard amenities include Bluetooth connectivity; Intelligent-key with push button start; Sirius/XM satellite radio capabilities and roadside assistance. Safety features include vehicle dynamic control (stability control), traction control and six airbags. The SL trim level, available for an additional $940 (MSRP), adds features including rearview monitor, solar panel spoiler, fog lights, and automatic headlights.

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In tandem with the purchase process, Nissan will offer personal charging docks, which operate on a 220-volt supply, as well as their installation. Nissan is providing these home-charging stations, which will be built and installed by AeroVironment, as part of a one-stop-shop process that includes a home assessment.

Nissan claims the Leaf is a zero-emissions vehicle, but what’s zero emissions? From The Energy Collective:

The biggest battle in the EPA’ s new rule was over how to treat electric cars. While the industry likes to use the term ‘zero emissions vehicle’, a plug-in car requires electricity from the grid. Several estimates I’ve seen put the amount of energy used in the range of 3 miles per kWH. If you’re connected to the hydroelectric-powered clean grid up in Washington, your plug-in would be six times less carbon intensive than a gas powered vehicle. But if you operate that same car in coal-dependent North Dakota, then your ‘zero emissions vehicle’ would actually be 20% more emissions intensive than if it used gasoline. Of course you can offset this electricity use by supporting wind farms in North Dakota, but the vehicle itself is far from ‘zero emissions’.

Some questions and answers on the Nissan Leaf via the Leaf’s official website where you can ask questions and get answers:

Q: What kind of battery will be in the Nissan LEAF?
A: Nissan LEAF uses a unique laminated Lithium-Ion battery with a capacity of 24kWh.

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Q: What is the acceleration and top speed of this car?
A: The LEAF handles and accelerates like a V6 car and has a top speed of up to 90mph.

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Q: How far can you drive on a single charge?
A: The LEAF will have a range of 100 miles per charge under average, everyday driving conditions.

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Q: About what would the 100 mile range reduce to if carrying 4 people at 200 pounds each?
A: Load and driving style have an impact, as they do in any car. Range is based on LA4 test cycle ratings.

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Q: What do I do if I want to go farther than 100 miles in one trip?
A: The Nissan LEAF’s nav system will be able to show you charging locations along your route where service is available.

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Q: Is battery swapping technology being considered?
A: All technologies are being considered to best fit our customers’ needs. That said, at launch, the Nissan LEAF will not be equipped with a battery swapping system.

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Q: How does driving in cold weather affect the performance and battery life?
A: Your driving habits and patterns and accessory use (including heat and a/c) all play a role in driving range.

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Q: What is the estimated time for full charging with 110v, 220v and fast charge stations?
A: Starting from a depleted battery, 16-18 hours at 110V, 8 hours at 220V (depending on amperage), 26 minutes to 80% at a quick-charge station.

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Q: When plugging the car in, will it be possible that the car is “smart” enough to pull electricity during non peak hours?
A: You can program the car to charge whenever you like. Most people will charge overnight at off-peak times like their cell phone.

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Q: Has anyone considered solar panels on the vehicle for recharging the battery?
A: The Nissan LEAF will have an available small solar panel on the rear spoiler to help charge the 12V accessory battery.

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Q: Will it be equipped with a 4-wheel disc break or drum?
A: Braking will be regenerative to help maintain battery charge and optimize driving range. It will be 4-wheel disc.

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Q: Can the Nissan LEAF tow a small boat or garden trailer?
A: At this point, we don’t recommend towing. Longer-term, we hope to provide options for specific needs like yours.

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Q: How much torque does the Nissan LEAF have?
A: The exact specs of the Nissan LEAF are still under development. It does, however, have 100% torque available at 0 RPM!

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Q: Is it true that the Nissan LEAF has no fluids like coolant, transmission, steering, brake…?
A: Most fluids associated with engines are eliminated, (motor oil, transmission fluid, etc). It will have brake fluid and washer fluid, though.

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Q: Will the car’s body be made of recyclable material?
A: The Nissan LEAF is partially made from recycled material and is designed to be almost fully recyclable at the end of its life. We hope that appropriate third-party recycling facilities will soon be common.

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Q: It’s great to cut down on vehicle emissions, but shouldn’t I worry about the power plant used to generate the electricity too?
A: Even in its dirtiest form, the electrical grid is much cleaner than burning gas. And the grid will get cleaner over time, unlike gas.

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