Restyled 2018 Nissan Leaf has extended range on full charge to about 150 miles

Nissan redesigned its groundbreaking Leaf all-electric car for 2018, which includes improving the electric drive system — and extended the driving range on a single charge to an estimated 150 miles, up from 107 miles on the 2017 model.

The exterior and interior have been restyled, and the new model has a 147-horsepower electric motor, up from the previous 107 horsepower. Torque was increased 36 percent, to 236 foot-pounds, giving the Leaf quicker starts.

Although the Leaf’s new 40 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack is the same size as before, it has higher density to provide more power, allowing for the increase in driving range.

And coming for 2019 will be a higher-priced Leaf model with an even more powerful battery and longer range.

Many electric vehicle experts believe that a minimum range of

200 miles is what consumers want to avoid having anxiety about whether they will run out of power prematurely.

But Nissan insists that the new 150-mile range “should satisfy the daily driving needs of the majority of Leaf owners.”

There are three trim levels: the S model, starting at $29,990 (plus $885 freight); the SV, beginning at $32,490; and the SL – the model we tested – which lists for $36,200.

The biggest difference in the price between the entry S model and the midlevel SV is that the S doesn’t have built-in quick-charging capability. But it can be added as an option for an additional $1,590.

Among other new technology in the 2018 Leaf is the e-Pedal, which lets the driver use a single pedal for more than 90 percent of everyday driving, including most braking. But the conventional brake pedal must still be used when fast or aggressive braking is necessary.

With the e-Pedal, when the driver takes his foot off the accelerator pedal, the car will come to a complete stop without the driver having to press the brake pedal. To activate the e-Pedal, the driver must pull back on a switch in the center console, but it does not stay activated once the vehicle is shut down – it defaults back to the “off” position.

Of course, the e-Pedal also does not take over and slow the vehicle if the Leaf’s radar cruise control is active and the driver moves the foot off the accelerator pedal.

During my week in the Leaf, I tried to remember to engage the e-Pedal whenever starting out, and found that in most driving conditions, I really didn’t need to use the actual brake pedal. Although I was not in a position to see for myself, the brake lights do come on when the e-Pedal is bringing the car to a stop, Nissan says.

Also new is the ProPilot Assist system, included on our test vehicle in a $650 package. It includes a combination of the radar/adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency forward braking with Pedestrian Detection, Steering Assist, Intelligent Lane Intervention, High-Beam Assist and an electric park brake.

Once it is activated, which happens when a button is pressed on the right side of the steering wheel, ProPilot Assist can actually keep the Leaf centered in its lane on the highway.

But even though it can do this, it doesn’t want the driver to

Nissan introduced the second generation of its Leaf all-electric car for 2018, with an extended driving range of up to 150 miles on a charge, thanks to an improved lithium-ion battery. The electric motor also is more powerful, and there is lots of new...