UK to make batteries for Nissan's electric LEAF

Nissan’s UK manufacturing plant in Sunderland will produce the batteries going into the new Nissan LEAF, which the company bills as “the world’s first affordable, zero-emission car.”

Unveiled over the weekend, the LEAF is set to launch late next year in Europe, Japan and the US.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said the LEAF represents Nissan’s hope that “their electric car will do for alternative-fuelled cars what the Model T Ford did for petrol-powered vehicles.”

While Nissan hasn’t yet announced how much the LEAF will cost, company officials say it will be “competitively priced in the range of a well-equipped C-segment vehicle” … even before tax breaks and other incentives are taken into account.

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, the LEAF will have a range of more than 160 kilometres on a single charge. Fully recharging the vehicle will take about eight hours using a standard home electrical outlet.

The LEAF will also feature an advanced IT system enabling motorists to use mobile phones to turn on air-conditioning and set charging functions. An on-board remote-controlled timer can also be pre-programmed to recharge batteries.

“The IT system is a critical advantage,” says Tooru Abe, chief product specialist at Nissan. “We wanted this vehicle to be a partner for the driver and an enhancement for the passengers. We also wanted this vehicle to help create a zero-emission community, and these IT features will help make that possible.”