IAB reader Ujjwal Saxena has spotted a Nissan Leaf that has been showcased at an official dealership in Delhi-NCR. This is merely a day after the EV was displayed at the company's first Digital Hub in India in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
While the Nissan Leaf is the world's best-selling EV, it will be a niche product for India that will showcase the company's prowess in modern and upmarket electric vehicles. Moreover, it should help the manufacturer understand the local electric car market better. While Nissan India realises that the Leaf won't sell in significant numbers, it intends to use the learnings to develop a locally produced, low-cost electric car that will be tailor-made for emerging markets like that of India.
The second-gen Leaf measures 4,480 mm in length, 1,790 mm in width, and 1,540 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,700 mm. Previewed by the Nissan IDS Concept at the 2015 Tokyo Motor Show, the Leaf features the company's signature V-motion grille, LED headlamps with the distinctive boomerang design, a floating-effect roof, and stylish wraparound taillights.
Powering the Nissan Leaf is the EM57 electric motor, which produces a maximum power of 110 kW (150 PS) and a peak torque of 320 Nm. The powertrain gets its juice from a 40 kWh Lithium-ion battery that can be charged completely in 16 hours through a 3 kW charger/8 hours using a 6 kW charger. That said, the battery can be replenished to 80% of its capacity in just 40 minutes through a fast charger.
The second-gen Nissan Leaf offers a driving range of 400 km (Japan JC08). In the international spec, the EV comes with a handful of advanced technologies, including e-Pedal, ProPILOT and ProPILOT Park. The former facilitates driving (starting, accelerating, decelerating and stopping) using just the accelerator pedal. The ProPILOT technology allows single-lane autonomous driving, while the ProPILOT Park technology offers autonomous parking.
Also Read - Nissan Note e-Power, Leaf, & Patrol showcased in India
The Nissan Leaf is scheduled to launch in India in the first quarter of 2019. It will come via the CBU route, likely from the Oppama Plant in Japan. It is expected to cost upwards of INR 40 lakh (ex-showroom).
