The Nissan Leaf will cost £23,350 when it goes on-sale in the UK in February next year - after government incentives.
The UK government incentive for electric cars is for 25 per cent of the purchase price of the car, up to a maximum of £5000. The Leaf will qualify for the full discount.
The UK price is in line with Nissan's policy of selling the car for less than 30,000 euros throughout Europe, after government incentives.
The Leaf will initially be launched in the UK, Ireland, Portugal and the Netherlands. The Netherlands will be the first European country to get the car, in December of this year. UK buyers can reserve a car from July.
Demand is expected to outstrip supply for the initial batch of Leafs that will be built in Japan; the company has already had mote than 10,000 customers pay a small deposit as an expression of interest and a similar scheme will be launched in Europe this summer.
Each battery pack is said to have a life of between five and 10 years. Nissan will improve the technology all the time and as more Leafs are produced, the cost will come down.
Nissan will break even on the Leaf in the first year and the car has been built to "make money", according to autocar.co.uk sources.
Production of the Leaf will commence at Sunderland in February 2013 and the plant will build 50,000 units per year on the same production line as the Note and Juke.
At the launch of the Leaf the Renault-Nissan alliance also confirmed it will launch eight electric cars across three brands - Renault, Nissan and Infiniti - as part of a 4 billion euro (£3.4bn) investment.
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Re: Nissan Leaf from £23,350
Is the government incentive still going to be upheld now that we have had a change of administration? I haven't heard anything mentioned about it since well before the election.
Re: Nissan Leaf from £23,350
Am I alone in my bemusement and frustration at how certain manufacturers and European governments are pushing EVs as a viable solution?
It may be viable if the sole objective is to reduce city-centre pollution (and possibly prop up your domestic motor industry which has recently chosen EV when forced to decide on alternative power cos it's the cheapest, least challenging - if least effective - way to go), although you still need a recharging infrastructure to be designed and installed.
It's not if you actually want to reduce global pollution, emissions, energy consumption and all-round efficiency.
It's a fascinating time for technological development, there is obviously no clear 'winner' in the 'alternative power' race, and certainly no solution comes close to the good ol' ICE, but we're in danger of allowing power plays and vested interests take us down the wrong technological road at a critical junction.
Re: Nissan Leaf from £23,350
Couldn't agree more.
Why buy a Leaf with its limited performance and high end price tag. I 'm reminded of the all new VW Golf' due out in 2012 I know, but that has below 100g/km, 80mpg and a price tag expected to be 10 grand cheaper than a Leaf.
What price your Leaf after 3 years?, with a battery pack life expected to be 5-10 years (notice not guaranteed) the new buyer could be forking out for the equivalent of a new engine.before he/she turns around.
Bill at http://thecarhub.net