Nissan Leaf - 100% Electric Car

The Nissan Leaf drives like any well-engineered compact family car. It uses Electronic Power Steering (EPS); an electric motor replaces hoses, pumps and reservoirs, and electric data signals feed back to a control system.

The electric motor for the Nissan Leaf is silent; this would usually make road and wind noise more audible, but Nissan's engineers have reduced these noises with aerodynamic shaping. Apparently, the Nissan Leaf is so quiet that it has been necessary to add artificial noises so as not to frighten pedestrians! A sound system produces a low speed, sci-fi swishing sound to warn passers by, and a siren when reversing.

Space usage is good; there is plenty of room for passengers and luggage as the battery is tucked away beneath the rear seat.

The main limitations of the Nissan Leaf are of course the distance it can travel on one charge, and the time taken to recharge. A depleted battery will take around 8 hours to recharge completely from a 240-volt outlet, and around 18 hours on a 110-volt outlet.

In order to relieve 'range anxiety', the Nissan Leaf shows power data on dedicated screens which encourage efficiency of driving. It will also estimate and display the data based on usage of the climate control system and other accessories.

In addition, a map on the navigation system will display the location of nearby 240-volt chargers. An auto-update feature uses cellular networks to update these locations as they are added.

Aside from there being no need to buy petrol ever again, the Nissan Leaf has so few engine parts that maintenance costs are also greatly reduced. Wiper blades and brake pads will probably be the only parts to replace for a few years; the battery is intended to last 5-10 years.