New 2016 Nissan LEAF with available 30 kWh pack for 107-mile range
10 September 2015
Nissan introduced the 2016 all-electric LEAF with an available 30 kWh battery that provides an EPA-estimated range of 107 miles (172 km)—a 27% increase over the previous 24 kWH battery. All LEAF models feature an 80kW AC synchronous motor that generates 80 kW (107 hp) and 254 N·m (187 lb-ft) of torque, which drives the front wheels through a single-speed reducer.
The new battery (with 25% more capacity than the 24 kWh pack) is standard for LEAF SV and LEAF SL models. LEAF S models continue to be equipped with a 24 kWh battery with an EPA-estimated range of 84 miles.The 2016 model also offers an enhanced IT system that is more user-friendly and gives drivers greater vehicle connectivity.
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The new 30 kWh battery design adds capacity without increasing battery package size by improving the cell structure of the laminated lithium-ion battery cells. Improved electrode material with revised chemistry results in higher power density and contributes to enhanced battery durability upon charge and discharge.
While the 24 kWh battery is composed of four cells per module (192 cells total), the new 30 kWh battery’s modules contain eight newly designed cells per module (192 cells total). Unlike conventional cylindrical batteries, the thin, compact laminated cells offer more flexibility in packaging and design applications. The 30 kWh battery pack weighs just 46 pounds more than the 24 kWh battery pack and has the same battery pack size and footprint.
The 2016 LEAF SV and SL have MPGe ratings of 124 city, 101 highway and 112 combined fuel economy, while LEAF S has MPGe ratings of 126 city, 101 highway and 114 combined.
As in previous years, the front-wheel drive LEAF uses a dedicated Nissan EV platform with batteries housed in the floor for optimum vehicle packaging and weight distribution. The body design includes a rigid-mounted battery frame, which helps provide greater body rigidity compared to a conventional compact car.
Nissan LEAF rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, with a 175.0-inch overall length, 69.7-inch width and 61.0-inch height. LEAF provides room for five adults and 24 cubic feet of cargo space. Placing the batteries in the floor of the vehicle provides optimum weight distribution to help enhance handling and allows for five-passenger seating by not intruding into the cabin space.
The 2016 Nissan LEAF offers a number of charging options. A charge port is located in the front body for the 240V charger and portable trickle-charge cable (110V). A charge port light and lock are standard. The available Quick Charge Port (standard on SV and SL, optional on S) allows charging to 80% capacity in about 30 minutes at public charging stations using a CHAdeMO fast charger. There is also a standard photovoltaic solar panel spoiler on SL models, which supports charging of the 12-volt battery for vehicle accessories.
LEAF SV and SL grades feature a 6.6 kW onboard charger that, using a 240V outlet, will charge the battery to 100% in about six hours. The system is an option on LEAF S, which in standard form utilizes a 3.6 kW onboard charger. All LEAF models come with a standard portable trickle charge cable.
Smooth ride and handling are provided through use of an independent strut suspension with stabilizer bar in front and a torsion beam rear suspension with integrated stabilizer bar. Nissan LEAF utilizes a vehicle-speed-sensitive electric power steering system, while responsive braking is provided by power-assisted front vented disc/solid rear disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist.
The standard regenerative braking system in LEAF helps increase range. By applying the brakes or reducing speed by letting off the accelerator, the electric motor acts as an electric generator, converting energy that would otherwise be wasted into battery energy. The “B-mode” (standard on all grades) allows the driver to engage an even more aggressive level of regenerative braking while decelerating, such as when going down hills. B-mode is offered in addition to the normal and Eco drive modes.
Standard LEAF safety systems include Nissan Advanced Air Bag System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensor, front seat-mounted side impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side impact supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head protection, three-point ALR/ELR seat belts (driver’s seat ELR only) with pretensioners and load limiters, child seat upper tether anchor, LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system and child safety rear door locks. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System (TCS) are also standard on all LEAF models.
Since Nissan LEAF launched in December 2010, we’ve become the global leaders in electric vehicle sales with an all-electric car specifically designed for the mass market. [More than 185,000 current Nissan LEAF owners world-wide. Ed.] We know that to maintain that leadership, we must continue developing battery technology that strikes that ideal balance between capacity, packaging, durability and affordability.
The new battery is just one of several enhancements for the 2016 LEAF. We’re also bringing audio and connectivity upgrades by adding NissanConnect with Mobile Apps with 5.0-inch color display as standard features for LEAF S models, and for SV and SL grades we are offering NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps–featuring a 7.0-inch color display with multi-touch control and Nissan Voice Recognition as standard features.
—Andrew Speaker, director, Nissan Electric Vehicle (EV) Sales & Marketing
The NissanConnect with Mobile Apps system for 2016 LEAF S includes Bluetooth Hands-free Phone System, Streaming audio via Bluetooth, Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant and USB connection port for iPod interface and other compatible devices.
NissanConnect with Navigation and Mobile Apps for SV and SL grades include a 7.0-inch color display with multi-touch control, Nissan Voice Recognition for navigation and audio, HD radio, and SiriusXM Travel Link for weather, fuel prices, movie listings, stock info and sports (SiriusXM subscription required, sold separately).
The menu screen graphics and customization process have been improved and charging screen information is now automatically updated every time the ignition is turned on and with every 12 miles (19 km) of driving.
The NissanConnect EV system (no-charge subscription required), also standard on SV and SL grades, allows remote connection to the vehicle, providing monitoring of battery state-of-charge, start charging event control and turning on the heating and air conditioning system prior to entering the vehicle.
Nissan LEAF and its battery are assembled in the United States at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant.
The 2016 Nissan LEAF has a starting price of $26,700 after the federal tax credit of $7,500 for the SV model and $29,290 for LEAF SL after the federal tax credit. Starting price for 2016 Nissan LEAF S grade remains $21,510 after the federal tax incentive.
This will get their sales going again for a while. But with everyone knowing that we have BEVs coming with 150-200 mile range...I don't think it will help for long.
Posted by: DaveD | 10 September 2015 at 07:43 AM
Not enough for our cold weather area. We need 3X more range.
Posted by: HarveyD | 10 September 2015 at 07:53 AM
Need to hear more about what active temperature control - both heating & cooling - has been built into the battery pack enclosure. IMO consideration should be given to providing significant underside insulation to guard against overwhelming the cooling system during summer driving particularly on sunbelt roads as has been reported.
I write this because it is becoming increasingly recognised that the battery is the car if strong residual values are to be realised. Otherwise it is possible that leasing of EVs will become the predominate mode in areas that frequently experience extreme temperatures.
Posted by: T2 | 10 September 2015 at 08:02 AM
So did Nissan just raise the price of the new 30kwh Leaf? It is 36.5k USD before incentives. I do not see how Nissan expect people to buy a non-luxury, non-performance car for that amount when the range is only 107 miles. IMO it is the wrong car. BEVs need to be luxury , long-range, high power and consequently expensive or they will not sell in volume. I also doubt we will see a 35k USD 200+ miles BEVs in 2017 despite what Tesla says right now. Remember Tesla also said the Model S would start at 50k USD but that was for the 40kwh version before incentive and there was no demand for it. We need a Roadster II and a fast luxury Model III doing min 230 miles. If it cost 45 to 50 k USD it will still by very good compared to the 70k USD Model S and I expect it to sell well and much better than the Leaf.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 10 September 2015 at 08:40 AM
In theory as batteries become a larger market and manufacturing, material sourcing and material properties improve and also move to higher quantities the price of batteries will come down and subsequently the price of electric vehicles will come down. Apparently Nissan and their battery partners are either not capable of making these cheaper, or they don't want to. This is too expensive. More range for the same price or the same range for less price would have been an improvement.
Posted by: Brotherkenny4 | 10 September 2015 at 09:10 AM
More range is good but that car is in a serious need of a face lift. It is UGLY!! The only things on the road that can compete in ugliness are the Nissan Cube and the Nissan Juke. Is there a trend here?
Posted by: sd | 10 September 2015 at 09:15 AM
The average person in the U.S. drives 29 miles per day. 80% of the people in the U.S. drive fewer than 40 miles per day. BEVs start out with a full charge every morning. Long range BEVs means more cost with no benefit, means the car will be unduly heavy with a huge detriment. The minority of people who need long range because they take road trips or have cold weather in the winter can buy a PHEV, or keep their ICE cars. Lots of PHEVs coming on the market.
Sometime in the future, when battery tech improves dramatically, the situation will change, but adding range now so that EVs imitate ICE will only make EVs heavy and expensive.
If you want a long-range luxury EV now, buy a Tesla. For most ordinary people, an EV with 100-mile range will meet their needs perfectly.
Posted by: ChrisL | 10 September 2015 at 10:39 AM
A 2016 Volt or equivalent may be one of the best interim affordable solution, at least until EV batteries with improved performances at much lower price are available?
Posted by: HarveyD | 10 September 2015 at 10:59 AM
I wonder how many LEAF owners will want the new pack.
Posted by: SJC | 10 September 2015 at 11:57 AM
@SJC
I would say they would all want it.
How many will pay for it is another matter.
@Henrik, not all EVs have to be expensive, large battery high performance cars, cars such as the Leaf are fine for people who just want to go about their daily business which is a great deal less that 106 miles / journey.
Also, may people already own an ICE car and this pairs up very nicely with a Leaf (or have one in the family).
Thus, the leaf can be used for most journeys and the ICE for the odd long one.
As I have suggested many times, all you need is a car swap system (app with reputations) and you can arrange to swap the leaf for an ICE for the odd long trip (or just for a change).
@Sd, the appearance is a matter of taste, clearly you dislike it (although I find it Ok). Perhaps "they" could wrap the same drivetrain in a more conventional shape. It would seem a reasonable (if expensive) option to me.
(Or make a diesel leaf and see how people got on with it.)
Posted by: mahonj | 10 September 2015 at 12:55 PM
Go Nissan!
I unreservedly welcome this absolute increase in capacity.
SJC:
Present Leaf owners might want to upgrade, but they ain't gonna get it.
Posted by: Davemart | 10 September 2015 at 01:10 PM
SJC:
I should have added apparently not only are there no plans to allow the upgrade, but they are not compatible.
Posted by: Davemart | 11 September 2015 at 02:28 AM
I am going to make a small bet that VW will upgrade the pack in the E-Golf shortly to 30Ah from the present 25Ah as per their roadmap, with a commensurate increase in range.
Posted by: Davemart | 11 September 2015 at 02:29 AM
How can the country justify spending $7,500 of taxpayer wealth on every BEV sold? This is insanity, since the country is deficient spending and the national debt alone is the biggest threat to nations economic stability and long term growth? The country is past broke, way past, and could enter Greece style bankruptcy if suffering another economic setback. We have no more juice upon economic upheaval. The BEV is a wealthy persons toy. If a consumer is attempting to budget for a $30k new battery car and needs a $7,500 rebate check, they should not being attempting the purchase. This market is not for average consumer and almost all sales goes to one state. The environmental benefits are meager as up to date studies claim. Auto experts and car companies already on record saying the BEV, hybrid, and plug in vehicles will be extremely low volume within foreseeable future. They are expensive and suffer inconvenience. Meanwhile improvements in ICE technology and technologies such as Bosch with low cost mild hybrid will be easily justified with no taxpayer cost. This technology is expected to be utilized within all of transportation as it's convenient and cost effective. The ICE maximizes utility of battery power and isn't limited by BEV shortcomings. This technology will do the environmental heavy lifting and is way more important than a few expensive BEV's. On top of this add ethanol fuel that is on a steep carbon rating improvement path. Latest studies outside of EPA "standard rating system" have ethanol -40% carbon compared to gasoline and projected to -60% by 2020. Engine technology improvements currently hampered by status of low octane fuels. Unleash higher blend ethanol (which is less expensive) to replace unhealthy gasoline components and allow engine technology to increase mileage rating. This path offers very high environmental results and can do so upon cost efficient mass appeal of international citizens. It's very appealing to national citizenship to reduce expensive petrol imports and produce domestic fuel. Also, this path is highly achievable and not hostage to future technology. Much of it can be produced now, with no increase in national debt and a huge improvement of environment. Do you really want all these international coal plants reserved for maximum utilization upon future of BEV? We should be minimizing our power needs.
Posted by: Trees | 11 September 2015 at 04:04 AM
Emily. I second your response and your suggestions, although I am "Caveman Lawyer" when it comes to your ethanol carbon impact benefit. The Leaf is not on a pathway to success. I believe it is a poster child and image thing for Nissan. Nissan doesn't take it seriously.
Keep renewable tax credits for Geothermal and Solar Installations, etc. Geothermal, especially, has considerable upfront costs for the earth exchange components. 22 years ago when I installed my geothermal system, the time it took to recover the loop cost was typically less than 5 years. Today it is more than this.
Posted by: Dr. Strange Love | 11 September 2015 at 05:28 AM
@ Davemart
What are you implying with AH. I think you've got your dimensions mixed up and surely mean kWh.
Posted by: yoatmon | 11 September 2015 at 06:02 AM
Dr. Strange Love, had to look up that Caveman Lawyer. I do think the ethanol environmental benefit is large. First many studies, rate the hybrid CNG vehicle above BEV for environmental benefits. Second the renewable ethanol, is superior to that of CNG. Ethanol requires little change in infrastructure. Refueling is easy, quick, and requires low energy. Little change required within current automotive technology. The fuel additive improves efficiency and lowers emissions from the petrol side, as well. Improvements upon agriculture, distribution, and processing still occurring at rapid rate within ethanol as compared to petrol. Petrol is getting more polluting over time, but is slated to always be with us and in large volume. Do we make the choice cleaner or just let it be? Ethanol is cheaper product as compared even to gasoline. Modern engine technology can overcome the lower btu handicap and in the process make the gasoline side more efficient. Ethanol is probably the only alternative with global opportunities of poor nations at least an affordable one with mass appeal. Even ethanol stoves are proving to have big environmental advantage in extremely poor island states that strip forest clean and pollute air. Small engines noted for heavy pollution a perfect candidate for E85 fuels as they will generate more power per pound and just a fraction of pollutants. Battery power, also, a great energy source for the lower power equipment with huge upside to environment.
Posted by: Trees | 11 September 2015 at 07:06 AM
@yoatman:
Nope 30Ah, as per the roadmap pg 18 here:
http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/talks_and_presentations/2014/07/FM_04_07_14.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/06_2014-07-04+Presentation+Barclays+London+Steiger+TOP+COPY.pdf
That is also around 30kwh for the E-Golf.
Posted by: Davemart | 11 September 2015 at 01:38 PM
@Emily
Justifying $7,500 per BEV is trivial when compared to justifying $2,200,000,000,000 to protect our oil addiction. It would be much cheaper to give EVERY licensed driver in the US $7,500 towards a BEV than to finance a single war for oil. If you're concerned about financing it perhaps you should worry about the 10 billion annual tax give aways to profitable oil corporations rather than the paltry 2 billion going back to hard working American taxpayers.
FYI a $30,000 car is below the average cost of a new ICE vehicle so logically these would be toys for the poor not toys for the rich.
You're wrong about almost all sales going to one state (California) as it is actually a bit less than half but since we Californians contribute more to the Federal government (we get back only 68 cents for every dollar we send) I would suggest that you stop your whining
about it lest we stop financing your oil addiction.
ICE fan boys have had 40 years to work on their efficiency and it hasn't amounted to much so don't tell us the wonderful things you'll do for us if we would just stop financing BEVs. Go back to your drawing board and give us a car that will get 200 MPG or better and little or no polution. Oh wait.. They've already done that. It is called the 2016 Chevy Volt or the Nissan Leaf.
Posted by: Gasbag | 11 September 2015 at 11:56 PM
$7,500 taxpayer expense per one BEV is an outrageous cost expense for debtor nation. These cars are not practical for average consumer needs. They appear as second car status or novelty car for wealthy. Removing the rebate will have little impact on this consumer class that can afford to be less practical. Present day sales of repeat BEV purchase, lost to luxurious SUV. Auto analysis claim BEV, hybrid, and plug ins will have low sales volume for foreseeable future. The efficiency or Mpg rating of electric car is just a factor of motor efficiency per EPA. Prior to these phony ratings the Energy Department had real life ratings. The BEV upon these real life ratings not very impressive as compared to similar size ICE vehicle. Environmental studies have concluded a CNG hybrid more effective to reduce emissions as compared to BEV. Automotive is in full swing to engineer the CNG vehicle. To make it as efficient as possible. Why? I will offer the unholy alliance theory, of large corporations that share mutual interest of not rocking the economic boat (minimal competition), maintaining politics as usual, and exploiting consumers with higher sales costs and less choice. So, natural gas is just another product of petrol, that's ok in their book. Compare auto industry quick response to CNG adaptation to make it efficient vs the go slow and no go for ethanol? I can give you plenty of examples that automotive is just playing around with ethanol and purposely avoiding engineering to maximize the fuel character benefit. Why? They don't want to rock the boat per the alliance for corporate wealth. Ethanol is just to dangerous as the fuel could make inroads and wash away this wealth control of public.
Posted by: Trees | 12 September 2015 at 06:43 AM
@ Gasbag
"ICE fan boys have had 40 years to work on their efficiency ..."
And the EV fan boys have had 45 years to come up with a practical battery and it hasn't happened. They've been promising a battery since early 1970.
Lithium ion technology is a dead end. It's too expensive, temperature sensitive and a safety hazard.
Posted by: Mannstein | 12 September 2015 at 03:53 PM
"they are not compatible"
Show us the evidence for that statement.
Posted by: SJC | 12 September 2015 at 05:14 PM
First off the $7,500 isn't an EXPENSE it is a tax credit. There is a big difference and if a debtor nation can't afford 2-3 billion per year for BEV credits then it certainly can't afford the 9-12 billion per year giveaways to the oil industry or another multi-trillion dollar war for oil. If you actually care about this and have half a brain then you should be ranting about the giveways to the oil industry. Also the credits for BEVs are only for a limited time. They go away by 2020 so you should relax and focus your rants on ending the massive subsidies to the oil industry.
Secondly you should educate yourself as your perception on the practicality of BEVs is grossly off base. BEVs have lower maintenance costs, lower insurance costs, lower operational costs and a lower total cost of ownership. I don't know what country you are from but here in the USA you aren't considered rich just because you have more than one car or can afford a $30,000
car. Here in the USA most cars are actually bought and owned by households with more than one car. Typically in multi-car households with a BEV the BEV is the primary vehicle! (based on miles driven.) In Europe it is the same story (See link below)
http://insideevs.com/nissan-leafs-rack-up-50-more-miles-per-year-than-average-ice-cars/
I'll admit before I leased a BEV I was almost as ignorant as you are about them but since my PV array produces more electricity than my household uses I couldn't resist. For our first year our fuel cost for 16,000 BEV miles was $15.00!
Good luck with the CNG thing. I believe BEVs are outselling new CNG vehicles by a good margin.
Posted by: Gasbag | 12 September 2015 at 11:35 PM
@Manstein
LIBs have a much better safety record than ICEVs have so I don't think that is a legitimate challenge/issue.
Thermal management is a challenge which has proven to be manageble particularly in moderate climates. Thermal management does add complexity and expense. Price is a big issue today but the price performance has been doubling every 5 years or so since LIBs were first commercialized 24 years ago.
Posted by: Gasbag | 12 September 2015 at 11:52 PM
I believe advanced battery technology is applicable more broadly to Plug-in Hybrid PHEVs and small scale rooftop PV arrays. The logic is in regard to land-use and development patterns that support alternate yet fundamental modes of urban/suburban travel - mass transit, walking and bicycling. PHEVs matched to rooftop PVs complement regional utility grids for more households than all-battery BEVs like Tesla and Nissan Leaf. Though all households with EVs and rooftop PV arrays gain benefits and advantages with the choice to use electricity for home use or for driving, those with PHEVs gain more economic incentives and disincentives to reduce average driving distances whereby more trips become possible without having to drive, thus offering more opportunity for local and transit-oriented economic development.
This viewpoint is based on the opinion that we drive too much, fly too much, truck and ship goods around the world too much. The technologies we should pursue are those which reduce routine long-distance travel and transport, not those which maintain the status quo economics of globalization, exotic air travel, rush hour commuting and around the clock cruising like Jimmy Neutron's "Advanced Alien Civilization" which 'devolved' into amebic blobs so they could live 24/7 in their mobility devices, ie their cars. The 200+ mile Tesla range encourages longer routine driving. The limited all-electric range of a PHEV, 10-40 miles, leads households to use electricity and fuels more sparingly. Thus, wholesale conversion to PHEVs has more potential to reduce overall fuel/energy consumption than all-battery BEVs. It's an argument that climate change activists should consider fairly.
Posted by: Sirkulat | 13 September 2015 at 10:39 AM