Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf (English for leaf as well backronym Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family Car ) is an electric car by the Japanese automaker Nissan, which was first introduced in August 2009 in Yokohama to the public. In contrast to electric vehicles from other manufacturers of the Leaf is the first mass-produced electric car, which was designed from the outset for this drive.
- 4.1 engine and traction battery
- 4.2 charging ports and charge
- 4.3 Specifications
Prehistory
The electric car has a long tradition in the history of Nissan. Has its origin this. Using a predecessor company bought up by the manufacturer Nissan Prince, the light of prevailing after the Second World War petrol shortage an electrically powered small car called Tama developed in 1947 and 1948 two more electric car models nachlegte After the fuel supply stabilized at the beginning of the 1950s, again, the production of these vehicles has been set.
From 1970, Nissan before some electrically powered concept vehicles until it came at the beginning of the 1990s to cooperate with Sony. This had the goal to make the electric car ready for serial production and led three years later to the Prairie EV, a van, which was based on the production model and has been converted to electric drive. On board was a world premiere: Novel lithium -ion batteries were used as power source; Up to this time, nickel - metal hydride storage batteries have been used for use in electrically powered vehicles mainly. Around 30 units were built from the Prairie EV. This number was surpassed in 1997 with the middle-class estate R'NESSA EV, of the 200 electric versions were produced and also represented a converted production model. The next step was followed in 1999 with the small-series production of the two-seater Hyper Mini, which was designed from the outset as a pure electric car.
In the subsequent period, the research on the battery technology was advanced and in collaboration with NEC to produce the Li -Ion batteries in a new design succeeded. A compact laminated type has been developed which could store twice the amount of energy for the same size, and replacing the cylindrical mold used to date. The very rapid development of batteries is due to the electrical equipment and in particular the mobile boom as more and smaller units have been required with a longer maturity. The experience gained but were also applied to the automotive industry and flowed into concept vehicles like the Pivo (2005) and Pivo 2 (2007), the Mixim (2007) and the Nuvu ( 2008), which as a technology platform for the new by the electric drive design options were opened. In 2009, finally followed by the presentation of the production model leaf.
Market development
Deliveries began in the United States on December 11, 2010, and in Japan on December 20. 2011, the more sales began first in countries where electric cars are subsidized by the state. These include Portugal in January, Ireland in February, the UK in March and the Netherlands in June. Nissan announced the launch of the Leaf in Germany for April 2012 at a price of 36.990 euros, the worldwide sales, also in Germany, began this year. Already since May 2011, the first three Leafs in Germany as part of the electric vehicle fleet of the company juwi in Woerrstadt go. In Norway, two percent of the cars sold were a Leaf in February 2012. With this result, the electric vehicle space reached 9 on the list of best-selling new vehicles. According to a press release from Nissan (as of July 2013) have sold over 71,000 Leafs worldwide so far. Thus, the Leaf is the best-selling electric car of all time. All together Leafs have been completed (as of October 2013) in about 500 million kilometers. Even that was a record. On 20 January 2014, worldwide sales reached the milestone of 100,000 vehicles, bringing the Leaf consolidates its place as the best-selling vehicle.
General
The Nissan Leaf is designed as a compact car and offers five seats a boot volume of 330 liters. The large space was realized by the placement of the batteries under the floor that does not unnecessarily thus need a lot of space. Also, could be kept low by this approach, the focus of the vehicle.
Maximum speed
The electric motor allows a maximum speed of 160 km / h
Reach and consumption
The possible range is Nissan with the batteries currently used with 160 km. Nissan Recalls that the reach of many factors such as outside temperature and condition of the road is dependent. The respective residual distance is updated in the navigation system constantly displayed along with the next charging stations in the area. The range can be extended with the Eco Mode. This is activated, the engine power and the power demand from other consumers is reduced, and, for example, decreases the performance of the air conditioner.
The Nissan Leaf has been extensively tested under winter temperatures. For countries like Canada or Norway is an optional extra battery heating is available to keep the traction battery in the low temperature range.
Essential for the increase of the range is the use of so-called regenerative braking system with which the leaf is equipped. The electric motor is used as a generator, which slows the vehicle by means of the resulting in the production of electricity resistance. Thus, the kinetic energy that would otherwise be lost in the conventional hydraulic-mechanical brake systems as frictional heat is converted into electrical energy, and the accumulator is fed. During heavy braking, the delay is assumed by a conventional hydraulic brake. A small solar panel on the rear spoiler, however, this is not standard equipment in every trim level input, they are independent of the high-current power to the traction battery power for the on-board electronics in the 12 -volt battery.
As a special service, Nissan offers the first year, tow the vehicle, even if it remains lying for self-inflicted dead battery.
In the U.S., are the Environmental Protection Agency for the vehicle - although it does not consume any fuel - a " consumption " of 106 miles per gallon (mpg ) (2.22 l/100 km ) in the city, 92 mpg (2.55 l / 100 km ) on the highway and 99 mpg (2.37 l/100 km ) combined at. For these figures, an energy equivalent of 33.7 kWh per gallon is prepared (8.90 kWh / L).
In an ADAC test on a given route in South Tyrol, the tested Leafs consumed an average of 17.4 kWh per 100 km, which corresponds to 1.95 liters of gasoline fuel.
Noise generation
To warn pedestrians ahead of the near-silent vehicle, Nissan is self-developed system Approaching Vehicle Sound for Pedestrians ( AVSP ) are used. This serves to prevent accidents and produced depend on the speed of the Leaf a sound change even when accelerating and decelerating. Up to a speed of 30 km / h and at a speed reduction below 25 km / h is active. An acoustic warning is also issued when starting the engine or during reset to make bystanders aware of a movement of the vehicle. The sound is produced by a speaker in the engine compartment and can only be temporarily disconnected from the driver, because after each restart, the system is active again.
Technology
Motor and traction battery
It is powered by an AC synchronous motor, in contrast to the internal combustion engine can obtain its maximum performance in a wider speed range. The maximum torque is already in the booth. The engine delivers 80 kW ( 109 hp ) from 2730 to about 9800/min and a torque of 280 Nm from 0 to about 2730/min. As an energy source is a composite of 48 modules traction battery with a traction voltage of 360 V. The lithium - ion batteries were developed by Automotive Energy Supply ( AESC ), a joint venture between Nissan with NEC. Save up to 24 kWh of energy ( the nominal capacity ) of which in the driving mode in favor of the durability of only a portion can be used.
Since 2012, Nissan offers in Japan to an "EV Power Station ", with which the car can be charged not only faster but also more energy from the traction battery can feed back into the house network.
Charging terminals and charging
At the front, below the company logo sitting two charging ports:
- Five pin charging connector type 1 for single-phase charging with AC. Here, in Europe a charging cable with Mennekes Type 2 connector for the charge at 230 V AC single phase 3.3 kW or a ICCB charger 230 volts AC with a maximum of 10A / 2,3 kW (at the household safety socket ) be used ..
- CHAdeMO DC port for quick charge with typical 50 kW, with a state of charge of 80 % is reached in 20-30 minutes.
By Car side " charging port type1 ' the Nissan Leaf can single-phase 230 V, 16 A ( " flux " ) are charged. It is specified for the charging cable with type 2 connection and IEC - load mode 3 at a charging station or a wallbox a charge time of eight hours. Due to the controllability of the charging capacity of the onboard charger via the control signal, a tracking charge of fluctuating energy sources ( for example, excess charge from photovoltaic ) is possible. The charging time is then determined by the energy supply from the source.
Also a charge on conventional domestic power sockets according to IEC - load mode 1 is possible. However, since the one used in Germany Schuko - plug system is not reverse polarity protected and is only specified up to a maximum load of 2.3 kW (10 A), it is ensured here with a ICCB - control unit in the special charging cable to the proper connector and limits the charging power. However, in order to extend the necessary charging time at 10 hours.
The ( DC ) fast charging from empty to 80 % of the capacity of DC charging stations CHAdeMO standards takes only 30 minutes. To be able to travel long distances with the Leaf, Nissan wants to create a sufficient infrastructure of charging stations in each country in cooperation with energy companies. In Germany, RWE, who formed a partnership to expand the public network of charging stations with Renault and Nissan set up or install especially charging stations and wall boxes with 11 kW/22 kW charging power and Mennekes connection involved. Quick charging points by CHAdeMO standard are currently being installed at Nissan dealers.
Specifications
Gallery
The charging station of the Leaf
Dashboard of the Nissan Leaf
Display on the dashboard
Selection touchscreen in the center console
Production sites
On 22 October 2010 the production of the Leaf was launched in Yokosuka at the main plant Oppama. In two additional plants in the U.S. and in the UK, production was recorded in the first quarter of 2013. The annual production output amounts to a total maximum of 250,000 units. As of 2015, more than 50,000 units per year are produced in China in Guangdong. There, they will then be built under the name Venucia e30.
Sales
So far (as of January 2014) were delivered over 100,000 Leafs around the world. The following table gives an overview of the sales in the major markets since launch.
Awards
- In November 2010 the Leaf to the European Car of the Year 2011 was chosen. With this victory, he is the first electric vehicle in the history of this competition, which was able to secure this award.
- 10 Best Engines 2011: The discharged from the American car magazine Ward's AutoWorld choice names the ten best engines of the year. The award for the Leaf was first elected a vehicle without a combustion engine.
- On 21 April 2011, the Nissan Leaf Auto Show received at the New York International award 2011 World Car of the Year ( WCOTY ).