The single factor that will do most to set battery electric cars free, experts are always saying, is a meaningful increase in their range.
Not only will this boost their usefulness, but it will also shorten the period of popularity of arguably heavier and more expensive plug-in hybrids, seen by most as the low-CO2 stopgap we need on the way to true zero-emissions cars.
We agree.
It’s why we’ve decided to run a Nissan Leaf on our long-term fleet again, having had one nearly five years ago when the concept was new.
The pioneering all-electric Nissan, British-built and now the world’s most popular electric car, has just become available with a 30kWh battery that gives it 25% more on-board power in a package no bigger or heavier than before.
As Leafs go, ours is a bit of a ritzmobile: a top-spec Leaf Tekna that comes complete with a Bose hi-fi, a handsome set of 17in alloy wheels and all the touchscreen telematics you could want.
It’ll warn you if your charge won’t complete a route. It’ll tell you what charging points are ahead on a journey and whether they’re free and working. And it’ll also tell you remotely about its state of charge via your smartphone.
If it weren’t for the government’s plug-in car grant (£4500 in this case), the Leaf would set you back £32,880. As it is, you’ll pay £28,380 (including an optional 6.6kW charger).
That’s still a solid price — £5000 more than our Vauxhall Astra SRi diesel, for example — but bear in mind that while the Astra will cost around £3000 to £4500 in fuel over a three-year life, the Leaf should cost £300 to £450 in electricity.
We’ve been driving it for only a few weeks, but our Leaf has already amassed 2000 miles without really trying.
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Still a joke
Faraway lands!?
Still looks c**p
Why should we buy the stuff that nightmares are made of, like this hideous thing?
Not really oil paintings...
Let's not forget that the Leaf is still (and always was) one of the first of its kind. The next model will look streets better. Teslas aren't really oil paintings and have their own flaws from what I've experienced. The BMW i3 is arguably a good looking electric car.
A couple of years ago
MPG equivalent?
MPG equivalent?
it's not there
Read it again there's no mention of "mpg", 3.6 miles a kw for a 30 kw battery equals 108 miles yet the article says it'll easily beats 110 miles. So for comparison sake with petrol at £1.08 a litre and economy 7 at .08p a kw (or .17 daytime) and Autocar now being best placed could they please us what the actually mpg figure they're getting.