Nissan Leaf
A mass-produced electric hatchback, one of the early examples that took the EV out of its niche.
Overview
The Leaf is one of the early models to present an electric drivetrain in the shape of an ordinary family hatchback. The design choice was not to draw attention: a body the buyer knew, with a motor they did not.
The most debated issue of this generation was battery life. Passively cooled packs ageing faster in hot climates left the industry a lasting lesson about how residual value is set for electric cars.
The model also played a part in popularising regenerative braking setups such as one-pedal driving. Recovering energy while slowing directly affects urban range in an electric vehicle.
Details
- Brand
- Nissan
- Category
- Hatchback
- Body
- Hatchback
- Propulsion
- elektrik
- Produced
- 2010–