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Nissan Leaf Electric Car: Ultimate Guide, What You Need To Know

 
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2013 Nissan Leaf

2013 Nissan Leaf

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Back in December 2010, an unassuming compact hatchback hit the Japanese and American markets.

A new small Nissan isn't normally the cause for fanfares and celebration, but the LEAF is one of the most significant cars of recent years--as it's a competitive, usable electric car.

Whether you love or hate the LEAF, it's playing a part in both turning electric cars into a mainstream product, and showing that a large car company really can put an electric vehicle into mass production.

We've been covering the LEAF since its early days, and we've now brought together a guide that covers all aspects of the car, from pre-launch to the experiences of owners, two years down the line.

 

LEAF basics: Driving the LEAF

So what is the Nissan Leaf? Put simply, it's a five-door, five-seat hatchback which sits in the compact class, next to conventionally-powered rivals like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic.

It uses a 24 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, which feeds power to an 80 kilowatt (110-horsepower) and 210 pound-foot electric motor. Official performance data is hard to come by, but the benchmark 0-60mph sprint has been variously recorded between 10 and 12 seconds, and top speed is around 90 mph. Official EPA range is estimated at 75 miles for the 2013 car, and 115 MPGe.

Pricing starts at $29,650 for the 2013 Leaf, including a mandatory $850 delivery fee.

You can check out our review of the 2013 Nissan Leaf, or head over to our sister site, The Car Connection, for further information.

We've also driven the Leaf on several occasions here at Green Car Reports, and you can click through our experiences below:

The 2011 Nissan Leaf has also been a previous nominee--and winner--of Green Car Reports' Best Car To Buy






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Comments (15)

  1. egm Posted: 8/16/2010 7:59pm PDT

    If you run out of gas on the road, there's always a "jerrycan" to get you to the nearest station.
    Is Nissan or perhaps some third party making a similar container for EV's ... I'll dub it an "EVcan"?
    It would need to hold 2 kWh or enough juice to go at least 10 miles and weigh less than 50 lb.
     
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  2. fb_787701102 avatar Martin Winlow Posted: 3/2/2013 9:00am PST

    Aren't there any mains sockets where you drive? If the worst happens and you run out of 'juice' (tho how you will be able to do that with even some basic planning for unfamiliar trips is beyond me) knock on someones door or stop at just about any petrol station and ask for a top up! When you explain the cost of even a full charge is about 50p they probably won't even take any money. You did bring your extension cable along didn't you?!
     
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  3. Essiemme Posted: 8/17/2010 2:59am PDT

    Hehe. Funny.
    Wait a minute, why not ??
    That's an excellent idea!
     
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  4. TEDMAC Posted: 9/18/2010 11:33pm PDT

    According to todays San Jose Mercury, Nissan is only going to have 200 Leafs to distribute in the USA in 2010. That is probably why I have not heard for them to go into a dealer and order my Leaf. I was one of the first on April 20th to put my deposit down. They seem to be making a lot of promises that they cannot keep.
     
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  5. BMW Sale Posted: 11/18/2010 11:59pm PST

    this car is mind blowing don't have any word to express this is a speed car looks good in black colour...
     
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  6. Chris Posted: 3/18/2011 9:40am PDT

    @TEDMAC: Nissan has a press release that states 1,500 LEAFs alone are currently in transit from Japan or already at U.S. port.
    http://nissannews.com/newsrelease.do;jsessionid=FFCBA57DE530F253BFD7179B32E16DFF?&id=2329
    You'll get your car sooner than you think!
     
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  7. slickcar avatar slic car Posted: 3/22/2011 5:07am PDT

    Thank for update. I just say this is a great idea.
    honda civic exhaust
     
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  8. tedmac Posted: 4/8/2011 12:06am PDT

    Got one of the 600 that left on the car carrier ship on March 10th, on April 1st. Daland Nissan gave me the car after my check for the full amount cleared on April 4th. 53 miles so far, and loving every minute behind the wheel.
     
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  9. MorinMoss avatar Morin Moss Posted: 3/2/2013 5:59pm PST

    How are there comments from 2010 if the article was posted in 2013?
    EVs are time machines?! Now I really, really want one.
     
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  10. john_v avatar John Voelcker Posted: 3/2/2013 6:19pm PST

    @Morin: The "ultimate guide" series on Green Car Reports are articles that are updated every few months to include our latest coverage of the cars in question. We re-date them so they show up at the top of the list, so a new set of readers can see them. Hope this helps.
     
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  11. MorinMoss avatar Morin Moss Posted: 3/2/2013 6:32pm PST

    Thanks. Perhaps you might consider a "Posted" and "Updated" indicator for these articles?
     
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  12. carphen avatar Stephen Hodges Posted: 3/3/2013 5:50pm PST

    Hi John... having tried unsuccessfully to find a washer pump online, maybe we could make a list of online Leaf spares sources?.. be a useful resource
     
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  13. fb_505150108 avatar Homar Torres Posted: 6/14/2013 5:18am PDT

    ok. What we need to now is: When it will finally be available to Puertoricans? 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 ... still no EVs for sale in Puerto Rico
     
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  14. Celloman avatar Richard Golladay Posted: 6/14/2013 11:47am PDT

    I have owned a 2012 Leaf for about 10 months now. Have put 1000 miles per month on the little blue vegetable, at this point. I love it, and would not give it up, even for a Tesla. It is doggone feisty, supports all my local trips, fun to drive. Have never used a commercial charging station, yet, preferring to charge at home with the AVcharger from Nissan - interconnected with a 12-kv photovoltaic solar system. A chicken in every pot, a solar panel on every roof, and a Leaf in every garage. That's my motto.
     
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  15. mlausier avatar Marc Lausier Posted: 6/15/2013 5:14am PDT

    The correct data on the 2013 LEAF is as follows:
    107 horsepower (80 kW motor times a factor of 1.34hp/kW)
    Torque has been reduced to 187 lb-ft
     
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