In the past, every generation or so, history has yielded a breakthrough, a turning point. Some were predicted, others unexpected. My generation will witness one of the most talked about, anticipated and expected shifts in our daily lives; the advent of the common modern electric vehicle.
Although it may be true that an electric mode of transportation itself is a near two-hundred year-old concept, it is only now, in the early stages of the 21st Century, that it's acceptance as a daily commuter vehicle has made its way into the collective consciousness.
This same consciousness has heard very little in the past of Nissan's efforts towards the commonly-called "sustainable mobility" that many other manufacturers have been babbling about over the last few years. While everyone was discussing the imminent arrival of the plug-in Toyota Prius and the Chevrolet Volt, the Japanese carmaker was quietly putting together a vehicle that may retain much of the "green" attention in 2010, that is, until the Volt finally rears its head for real.
MC Electric
Carlos Ghosn is a near celebrity; he is at least in the auto world, kind of like a Bob Lutz without the Lutzness... To listen to his passionate words about the electric car is to become a convert. Luckily, Mr. Ghosn is not a preacher raising false hope. His and Nissan's plan is to bring an affordable 5-passenger electric car to the masses for the masses. His plan is simple: Nissan, and by default Renault, will be 100% involved in the process. From conceiving, developing and assembling these cars, they will see to it that the LEAF experience will be a notable one.
Some say that his prediction of 1 million EVs on the road by 2015 is lofty and not quite realistic. In his mind, he believes that this is a conservative estimate and I tend to agree with him. Undoubtedly, a snowball effect will take place once the "real EVs" become widely available. As more leave showroom floors, they will be more visible; more people will want them and so on and so forth.
Mr. Ghosn uttered a great line that sums up the EV movement: "With these cars, the guilt of driving will be dissociated from the pleasure of driving". We as humans are trend followers. It usually begins in concentrated urban areas, hence why the LEAF will begin its journey in places like Vancouver here in Canada in mid-2011 (available in a year's time in certain areas of the US such as California where 40% of its smog originates from transport). If it is frowned upon to drive a bulky SUV now, wait until EVs become commonplace.
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| The LEAF will begin its journey in places like Vancouver here in Canada in early 2011. |
Although it may be true that an electric mode of transportation itself is a near two-hundred year-old concept, it is only now, in the early stages of the 21st Century, that it's acceptance as a daily commuter vehicle has made its way into the collective consciousness.
This same consciousness has heard very little in the past of Nissan's efforts towards the commonly-called "sustainable mobility" that many other manufacturers have been babbling about over the last few years. While everyone was discussing the imminent arrival of the plug-in Toyota Prius and the Chevrolet Volt, the Japanese carmaker was quietly putting together a vehicle that may retain much of the "green" attention in 2010, that is, until the Volt finally rears its head for real.
MC Electric
Carlos Ghosn is a near celebrity; he is at least in the auto world, kind of like a Bob Lutz without the Lutzness... To listen to his passionate words about the electric car is to become a convert. Luckily, Mr. Ghosn is not a preacher raising false hope. His and Nissan's plan is to bring an affordable 5-passenger electric car to the masses for the masses. His plan is simple: Nissan, and by default Renault, will be 100% involved in the process. From conceiving, developing and assembling these cars, they will see to it that the LEAF experience will be a notable one.
Some say that his prediction of 1 million EVs on the road by 2015 is lofty and not quite realistic. In his mind, he believes that this is a conservative estimate and I tend to agree with him. Undoubtedly, a snowball effect will take place once the "real EVs" become widely available. As more leave showroom floors, they will be more visible; more people will want them and so on and so forth.
Mr. Ghosn uttered a great line that sums up the EV movement: "With these cars, the guilt of driving will be dissociated from the pleasure of driving". We as humans are trend followers. It usually begins in concentrated urban areas, hence why the LEAF will begin its journey in places like Vancouver here in Canada in mid-2011 (available in a year's time in certain areas of the US such as California where 40% of its smog originates from transport). If it is frowned upon to drive a bulky SUV now, wait until EVs become commonplace.
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| The cabin is an eclectic mix of new and old design elements with Nissan's own flavour. |