After more than 10 years on sale, Nissan's electric family hatchback has turned over a new Leaf – as a hearse.
Based on a 62kWh Nissan Leaf, the conversion is the work of Wilcox Limousines, the British-based coachbuilders of funeral vehicles and limousines.
The electric hearse can accommodate a driver and funeral 'conductor' in the front with capacity for a payload of up to 230kg, including a seven-foot coffin, behind.
To construct the model, engineers removed the original Leaf's roof and pillars and replaced them with recycled carbon-fibre, styled by a specialist designer. The body was cut and extended by 80cm, the battery pack moved rearwards to optimise weight distribution and the vehicle's rear section stiffened and braced.
Despite these modifications and being taller and longer, the Leaf hearse is only 3% heavier than the standard Leaf hatchback thanks, in large part, to the removal of the original car's two rear doors and rear seat. This puts the new model at odds with conventional hearses which have five doors and four seats for additional funeral staff.
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Despite this, Louis Wilcox, grandson of company founder William Wilcox, said the new model had been well received by the country's major funeral companies who, he said, want a greener alternative for environmentally conscious customers. "The Leaf hearse is ideal for the increasing number of people who are asking for a simpler and greener burial or cremation for their loved ones."
Move Electric had an exclusive first drive – unladen – of Wilcox's development Leaf hearse. The 40kWh vehicle (production versions have the larger 62kWh battery) is an intelligent and sensitive restyle that is also remarkably well finished. But for its high roof, large side windows and larger tailgate it could be a Leaf estate from the Nissan catalogue, the design is that cohesive.
Underway, performance is unaffected by the car's slight increase in weight, the Leaf pulling away with un-hearse-like enthusiasm. On our bumpy suburban test route and at gentle speeds it was comfortable and composed, while at higher speeds on country roads it cornered securely and predictably. The only sour note was a deep pothole that jarred it noticeably. Wilcox claims a maximum range of 210 miles for the 62kW version or slightly less than the hatchback equivalent.
Being electric the Leaf hearse is, of course, quiet but while this is an ideal attribute for such a vehicle, Wilcox admits that the Leaf's near-silence could also be a liability.
"The conductor, who walks ahead of the hearse in a funeral procession, needs to know where the vehicle is without turning around. With the Leaf, he could be half way along the road before he realises it hasn't moved. To avoid any confusion, we'll adapt the Leaf's reverse 'beeper' to alert them."
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"Higher speeds on country roads, cornering securely" It's a hearse for heaven's sake, what does it matter?
More concerning is that without rear doors and seats, this two-seater will always need an additional vehicle to accompany it, blowing away its environmental credentials. Also it has taken a perfectly good Leaf of the road, meaning one less EV which could have saved considerably more CO2 had it been used for a bigger mileage.
So this is really just a publicity stunt for generating more business for this particular operator!
I don't believe that initially, nor in the form presented here, that hearse is intended for processions. It seems it would be used more for moving the customers from one location to another - care home to chapel of rest, for example. Not all undertakers like to use vans, but tying up a standard hearse for such work might not be the best use of their vehicles.
Electric car is a better hearse. The electricity can be used for a built in defibrillator, just in case. If a person's heart then beats again, the hearse is defined as a rehearse.