Nissan unveils new LEAF with a powerful battery and improved range
Yokohama, Japan: The new Nissan LEAF is all set to rewrite benchmarks in mainstream electric cars by offering greater range, advanced technologies and a dynamic new design. The zero-emission vehicle embodies Nissan Intelligent Mobility, with three key aspects of Intelligent Driving, Intelligent Power and Intelligent Integration.
Headlining the new LEAF’s Intelligent Driving technology are ProPILOT, ProPILOT Park, and e-Pedal. ProPILOT automatically controls the distance to the vehicle in front, using a speed preset by the driver. It helps the driver steer and keep the vehicle in its lane. If the car in front stops, the ProPILOT system will automatically apply the brakes to bring the vehicle to a full stop if necessary. When traffic restarts, the car will resume driving when the driver touches the switch again or lightly presses the accelerator to activate ProPILOT.
ProPILOT Park on the other hand uses four high-resolution cameras and information from 12 ultrasonic sensors around the car, to help drivers park by automatically controlling acceleration, brakes, handling, shift changing and parking brakes and guide the car into a parking spot.
Another innovation that enhances the Nissan LEAF’s driving experience is the e-Pedal, offered as standard equipment. It allows the driver the simplicity of starting, accelerating, decelerating, stopping and holding the car by using the accelerator pedal alone. By simply releasing the accelerator, the car will come to a smooth and complete stop and hold without the need to press the brake pedal.
The new LEAF has a set of advanced safety technologies including Intelligent Lane Intervention, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection and Emergency Assist for Pedal Misapplication.
Nissan Intelligent Power offers improved energy efficiency and increased torque and power output. The new e-powertrain delivers a power output of 110 kW, 38% more than the previous-generation. Torque has been increased 26% to 320 Nm, resulting in improved acceleration.
The driving range has also been increased, with the new lithium-ion battery pack delivering an estimated range of 400 km, which should be good for daily driving needs of a majority of customers. Nissan also plans to come up with a higher power, longer range version at a higher price in 2018.
The Intelligent Integration tech links drivers, vehicles and communities through the NissanConnect feature and systems that share power between electric vehicles and homes, buildings and power grids. Using vehicle-to-home systems, the battery makes it possible to store surplus solar power during the daytime and then use it to help power the home in the evening. Customer can also recharge the battery in the middle of the night, when prices are lowest in some markets, and then use the electricity during the day to reduce energy costs.
In some countries with vehicle-to-grid systems, Nissan LEAF owners can get incentives from energy companies to improve power grid stability by absorbing demand fluctuation. A newly designed interface on the Nissan LEAF smartphone app allows users to monitor the vehicle’s state of charge, schedule charging to benefit from optimal energy tariffs, find the nearest charging station, and pre-heat or cool the car before getting in.
