AHEAD
of next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, Nissan has unveiled the second generation of its allelectric Leaf, pictured left, to be built in Sunderland after a £36 million investment. The new Leaf has an ‘e-pedal’ which drives it forward when pressed, and slows it down when the force is released, plus a separate brake for emergency stops. It also claims a range of 235 miles on battery power — more than 50 per cent further than the outdoing model.
Prices are expected to start at about £20,000, inclusive of a government grant of £4,500, when on sale here in January. A 40-minute fast-charge boosts the battery to 80 per cent of capacity, while a full charge will take eight hours from a standard charger. More than 70,000 Nissan Leafs have been built in Sunderland since 2013, including a record 17,483 last year.