Months ago, I read about a new car that would be rolling out soon called the Nissan Leaf. What I read gave a little information about what was coming, but nothing like the first hand look I got today.

(image from nissanusa.com)

My first real look at the Leaf gave me a better peek at the design, inside and out, and introduced me to a lot of cool features I want to share with you.

Appearances

Appearances aren’t everything, but nobody buys a new car without thinking about how it looks. This is not the most attractive car, but it’s not bad, either. One of the obvious challenges of an electric car is increasing its range and speed capabilities, which often means a smaller car. The shape is a little sporty and the interior is pretty nice as well. Over all, I think they did a decent job with it.

(image from nissanusa.com)

Benefits Of An Electric Car

By now, most people know that electric cars and hybrids cost a lot more money, and you may have also heard about government incentives and tax breaks given to people who buy these automobiles. There’s a reason you get these incentives. Hybrids are better for the environment, reducing emissions and an All-electric car like the Leaf has zero emissions. The environmental benefit is huge. As well, this car will not use fuel that we normally rely on and experts predict we’ll run out of. Instead, it uses electric power which can be harnessed from solar energy at your own home, if you want. Even if you just pay the electric company, the current rate works out to about $2.78 to fully charge the Leaf (100 miles on a full charge), compared to the $2.86 per gallon I paid to put gas in my car yesterday.

Nissan Leaf Specifications

There are a lot more specifications and features, but below are the ones I felt were worth mentioning here.

* zero tailpipe emissions/Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV)
* 100% electric – no gas required
* high response 80kW AC synchronous electric motor
* range – 100 miles/charge based upon US EPA LA4 City cycle2
* speeds up to 90 mph
* 5 passengers, 5 doors
* 120 V portable trickle charging cable3
* regenerative brakes
* vehicle-speed-sensitive electric power steering
* aerodynamic LED headlights
* partially recycled light gray cloth seat fabric
* Nissan Intelligent Key and Push Button Start
* Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System
* Automatic Temperature Control (ATC)
* trip computer
* remote keyless entry
* auto-dimming rearview mirror
* illuminated glove compartment
* auxiliary 12-volt DC power outlet
* AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with MP3/WMA playback capability
* XM® Satellite Radio 4
* auxiliary audio input jack 5
* USB connection port for iPod® interface and other compatible devices5
* Nissan Navigation System with 7.0” color display
* CARWINGS – allowing for remote connection to LEAF
o monitor battery state of charge/charging status
o start vehicle charging event
o activate heating and air conditioning systems
* Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
* Nissan Vehicle Immobilizer System
* Vehicle Security System

Built-In Technology

Beyond the simple fact that this car is all electric, Nissan included some pretty cool features I’d love to see in my own car. One of these features that makes me feel like we’re finally in 2010 is CARWINGS. CARWINGS is akin to OnStar in that it is a computer in your car, but you don’t talk to a person. Instead, you talk to your car. With CARWINGS, you can communicate with the car via a touch screen interface, a web site, or your iPhone. You don’t have to initiate the conversation, either. Suppose you come home and forget to plug in your Leaf after a long day. It’ll recognize that fact and email or text you to remind you to plug it in. If one of the batteries fails, it will email Nissan so someone can contact you to bring the car in. My tour guide explained that they aren’t sure about pricing after the free introductory period, but that introduction lasts a comfy 3 years.

You can also get the Leaf with a rear back-up camera so you can back up safely, and even a solar panel on the back to help keep a small charge in the car even while you’re in your office, working away. One of the unexpected features is the ability to program an audible pedestrian alert to let pedestrians know you’re driving a very quiet car in the vicinity. I’m told there’s even a third-party program to allow you to create and program in your own audio. I can only imagine the results. Along with all of this comes some of the more recognizable features like map-guided navigation, MP3 support, etc. Not a bad mix of technology.

Charging

Charging an electric vehicle is one of the concerns voiced most by consumers. How far will it drive on a single charge? Will there be charging stations like there are gas stations? How much will it cost? My visit to check out the Nissan Leaf answered all of these questions and a couple more.

How far will it go?
According to Nissan, the Leaf will go about 100 miles on a full charge. This is less than most cars get on a full tank of gas, so it may be less ideal for road trips unless there are charging stations along the way. The other side of that argument is that the fuel economy provided makes it much cheaper for long trips.

How much does it cost to charge?
Nissan’s 24 kWh battery can be charged at around 10 to 12 cents per kWh depending on where you live. At that rate, you’ll end up paying about as much to fully charge the Leaf as you would for a single gallon of gas. Estimates (based on 15,000 miles a year at 12 cents/kWh) have come out to about $561 a year to charge it.

Can it be charged it at home?
When you buy a leaf, they install a home charger with a $100 assessment fee. The charging station, itself, is said to be about $2,000.

What about charging while out?
Nissan says, “We are working with government and private corporations to grow infrastructure. You can help by supporting this growth in your own community.” The charging plug is a universal standard, so you wouldn’t have to rely on just Nissan to get these charging stations in place. Any station that pops up with the universally standard plug will work.

How long does it take to charge?
At home, on a 120 volt system, you’ll get a full charge in 18 hours. A 240 volt system will, of course, make this much faster, and a 440 volt commercial system will get you 80% charged in only about a half hour.

Conclusions

It’s no Ferrari, but it’s not ugly, either, and it’s very tech friendly while saving the planet from the nasty emissions my own car will be pumping into the atmosphere on my way home tonight. The cost can be offset by government tax credits and even more by the efficient costs of daily driving, but the initial sticker price might still scare some away. It’s an attractive package for those of us who want technology but also want to join the ranks of people driving smarter and more earth-friendly vehicles. The Prius is about to have its impressive sales numbers challenged, although I am very interested in seeing what the how other car companies answer the Leaf.