NASHVILLE, TN – Rolling to a silent stop, we can't help but notice the driver of a cherry red Camry Hybrid grinning and waving almost frantically next to us.
Having experienced the brand-fraternity equivalent of a secret handshake during other test drives (the "boy howdy" wave from Jeep dudes, the almost begrudging nod of the German performance sedan driver or the friendly beep-beep of the Mini owner) we assumed he was just happy to acknowledge his recognition of the Nissan LEAF Electric Vehicle we're piloting.
But after he pulled in behind and followed as we coasted to a stop, he proudly introduced himself as a "hypermiler" a community of drivers zealously committed to using as little fuel as possible, and competitively recording rates as low as 1.10 L/100 km (Honda Insight).
We needn't have bothered trying to telling him about our LEAF, he already knew all the facts and figures better than we did. The advance marketing through various social and conventional media has created a buzz that's establishing the LEAF as one of the most revolutionary automobiles of our time. Nissan is producing a factory-capacity initial run of 20,000 vehicles, all of which have been snapped up by pre-registered U.S. buyers.
Just what was it about this rather unassuming not-quite-cute, but not-really-ugly hatchback to cause such a stir?
Well, aside from the logistics surrounding, and social implications of its technology – quite simply put, the LEAF's most important quality is that it's unremarkable. As the world's first mass-market all-electric vehicle without any alienating weirdness, it brings EV technology to the mainstream buyer by its familiarity.
Walking around our baby-blue tester, the only immediately defining feature (aside from the decals) is the lack of a tailpipe. The LEAF has no exhaust system, it uses no gas, and creates no emissions. There's no range-extending gasoline engine, it's 100% all-electric. It's rather tall, with a high beltline and large expanses of glass. The roof spoiler sports a small solar panel that reportedly trickle-charges the 12-volt battery powering electrical accessories.
Large, bulbous HID headlights are a patented design that split aero-dragging and noise inducing air, directing it away from the side mirrors.
Flip up the nose-badge, and there are two recharge ports - one, a universal outlet for both 110 and 220 volts, the other, a "level 3" 600 volt port capable of recharging the car in 30 minutes once the technology is widely available.
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| The LEAF launches this December in the U.S. while Canadians will have to wait until the fall of next year. (Photo: Lesley Wimbush/Auto123.com) |
Having experienced the brand-fraternity equivalent of a secret handshake during other test drives (the "boy howdy" wave from Jeep dudes, the almost begrudging nod of the German performance sedan driver or the friendly beep-beep of the Mini owner) we assumed he was just happy to acknowledge his recognition of the Nissan LEAF Electric Vehicle we're piloting.
But after he pulled in behind and followed as we coasted to a stop, he proudly introduced himself as a "hypermiler" a community of drivers zealously committed to using as little fuel as possible, and competitively recording rates as low as 1.10 L/100 km (Honda Insight).
We needn't have bothered trying to telling him about our LEAF, he already knew all the facts and figures better than we did. The advance marketing through various social and conventional media has created a buzz that's establishing the LEAF as one of the most revolutionary automobiles of our time. Nissan is producing a factory-capacity initial run of 20,000 vehicles, all of which have been snapped up by pre-registered U.S. buyers.
Just what was it about this rather unassuming not-quite-cute, but not-really-ugly hatchback to cause such a stir?
Well, aside from the logistics surrounding, and social implications of its technology – quite simply put, the LEAF's most important quality is that it's unremarkable. As the world's first mass-market all-electric vehicle without any alienating weirdness, it brings EV technology to the mainstream buyer by its familiarity.
Walking around our baby-blue tester, the only immediately defining feature (aside from the decals) is the lack of a tailpipe. The LEAF has no exhaust system, it uses no gas, and creates no emissions. There's no range-extending gasoline engine, it's 100% all-electric. It's rather tall, with a high beltline and large expanses of glass. The roof spoiler sports a small solar panel that reportedly trickle-charges the 12-volt battery powering electrical accessories.
Large, bulbous HID headlights are a patented design that split aero-dragging and noise inducing air, directing it away from the side mirrors.
Flip up the nose-badge, and there are two recharge ports - one, a universal outlet for both 110 and 220 volts, the other, a "level 3" 600 volt port capable of recharging the car in 30 minutes once the technology is widely available.
 |
| Flip up the nose-badge, and there are two recharge ports. (Photo: Nissan) |