Genesis, or Armageddon?
It doesn’t come as a shock that innovative car maker Nissan will be one of the first main stream car makers to offer an all electric vehicle, as they unveil there new “LEAF” which will go on sale before the end of 2010 and it will produce ZERO emissions.
Pretty much like a conventional 5 door hatchback in most other ways, the “Leaf” however will be powered by 107bhp electric motor which you can charge from a normal domestic power supply.
Nissan say that the ”Leaf” with its (claimed)100 mile range perfectly satisfies the requirements of 70% of the worlds consumers who drive cars and Nissan say that the “Leaf” will take just 30 minutes on the end of a 3 pin plug to reach 80% of its full charge.
Another first will allow you to link your “Leaf” to you’re mobile phone giving you lots of remote functions you can access, such as monitoring the cars charging status (hours of fun) or the ability to set the air-conditioning to either heat, or cool the car whilst its still plugged in, “to save draining the battery during the journey”
All this is pretty hard to argue against and we are very impressed so far.
Apparently, there will be a government subsidy of £5,000 on these types of car from 2011 onwards, which should mean the car wont cost any more than a similar “conventional 1.6 diesel or petrol” well specified lower medium sector competitor, so this car is a really serious and sensible alternative.
Nissan say the “Leaf” will be a real-world car with absolute zero emissions and “it’s the first step in what is sure to be an exciting journey”
As a manufacturer, Nissan are committed to building cars in the UK and indeed the batteries for cars like the new “Leaf” will be made here in England.
This is just full of real positives, so let’s all get in the queue.
But wait!
This new car is more than just a cracking emission free cheap to run vehicle. This is no quirky hybrid or city car; it’s the real deal and presents a real alternative to conventionally powered cars. Don’t for one minute however think its going to save the planet, as it isn’t as the electricity running out of your 3 pin plug has to come from somewhere, but it’s a start, but at the same time, its also an end, as it symbolises the end of motoring as we know it.
This car and others like it that will follow are so significant and will herald the biggest changes to how we use and more importantly, how we pay for our motoring. By many the new “Leaf” will be seen as Genesis, but by many others it represents “Armageddon”
Fact is, cars like Nissan’s “Leaf” will undoubtedly become responsible for the introduction of road charging across the UK as they will run on “non-taxable” sources of fuel and the Chancellor just can’t afford to lose the £3.25 a gallon tax income he currently gets from petrol & diesel.
We commend Nissan on developing this new car, but at the same time it and cars like it will herald the end of our motoring life as we know it and I have to say, I think that’s sad.
Actual prices are not going to be announced until much closer to the cars launch
