Nissan’s LEAF Zero Emission Car Goes on Tour

Stock photo.

For anyone curious about what it would be like to drive a ‘zero-emission’ all-electric car without having to buy one, you might be able to get your chance on Nissan’s North American tour of its newly developed LEAF five-door hatchback.

Nissan has just begun its LEAF tour which will stop in a total of 22 cities in 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Vancouver, Canada. The automaker is going all-out to showcase the hatchback, which is expected to rollout in mass production in late 2010.

While Nissan is in full-swing marketing mode, they’re also providing some hard facts about the LEAF, which is designed with a lithium ion chassis. For those unfamiliar with automotive terminology, the chassis generally refers to the frame of a vehicle, including components such as the engine, transmission, and suspension.

The LEAF has a laminated lithium ion rechargeable battery with a capacity of 24kWh (kilowatt hours) and a power of over 90kW (kilowatts), built by the Automotive Energy Supply Corporation.

Stock photo.

Until recent years, lithium ion batteries were only found in small items such as portable consumer electronics because of their high energy-to-weight ratios. New leaps in compact power technology now allow the LEAF battery to fully recharge in four-to-eight hours on a 220 V (volt) home charging unit, or charge in 26 minutes to 80 percent capacity at a quick-charge station, according to the automaker.

In addition, Nissan estimates the LEAF’s battery to have a lifespan of about five years. “By six years, it will have decreased to about 80 percent capacity,” says the automaker.

On the more day-to-day front, the hatchback is touted to reach a driving range of about 100 miles (160 kilometers) on one full charge, and lacks an internal combustion engine, so emits zero carbon or other greenhouses gases.

The LEAF tour will make appearances in the following locations, which are subject to change.

• Southern California
  Los Angeles: Nov. 13-17
  Orange County: Nov. 18
  San Diego: Nov. 19-21
• Northern California
  Berkeley/Walnut Creek: Nov. 23-24
  San Francisco: Nov. 25-29
  Santa Rosa: Dec. 1
  Sacramento: Dec. 1
  San Jose: Dec. 3-6
• Pacific Northwest
  Seattle: Dec. 8-12
  Vancouver, Canada: Dec. 14-15
  Portland, Ore.: Dec. 17-23
• Southwest
  Phoenix/Tucson: Dec. 30-Jan. 5
  Las Vegas: Jan. 6
• Midwest/East Coast
  Detroit: Jan. 11-13
  Knoxville/Chattanooga, Tenn.: Jan. 16
  Middle Tennessee: Jan. 19-21
  Washington, D.C.: Jan. 26-28
  Raleigh, N.C.: Jan. 29
  Orlando: Feb. 1-2
• Texas
  Houston: Feb. 5-6
• New York
  New York City: Feb. 9-14

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