Nissan’s signature Leaf EV has been updated to boast 25% more range thanks to a new battery, extra interior equipment and minor exterior enhancements, which include a roof-mounted aerial and a new bronze paint scheme.
The big news is the bump in range, from the previous 200 km to 250 km (NEDC) for a single charge. “The Leaf, the best-selling EV in the world, just got even better. And up to 250 km opens the world of EV to thousands of drivers across Europe who before just weren’t completely confident that an EV would work for them,” said Paul Willcox, chairman of Nissan Europe.
The boost in range is thanks to a new 30 kW battery (24 kW before) which sees the introduction of carbon, nitrogen and magnesium to the electrodes and a change in the cell layouts. Despite the added performance, the battery pack’s dimensions remain the same, and weight is up by just 21 kg.
The remote NissanConnect EV system replaces the old Carwings setup. It has been simplified and redesigned. On top of a revised navigation system, maintenance alert and car-finder facility, it now comes with a charging map that notifies drivers which charging points are available and which are occupied.
The system also comes with a capacitive seven-inch touchscreen. With a new interface, it lets the user zoom in to maps and browse through menus by swiping, as one would on their smartphone. Being able to check charge status or pre-heat/cool the cabin without using battery energy is useful.
The newly refreshed 2016 Nissan Leaf starts from £24,490 (RM162,644) for the Acenta trim and £27,940 (RM185,556) for the Tekna variant in the UK. Older 24 kW Leaf variants (Visia, Acenta and Tekna) will still be available.
