Next gen Nissan Leaf to come with more than 200 miles range – Bolt and Model 3 territory

Release Date: 2018
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One doesn’t have to look to far on the internet to find a comparison of 200-mile electric vehicles. The conversation always ends something along the lines of “Once I see what the LEAF 2.0 offers I’ll decide on whether or not to buy a Bolt or fulfil my reservation on the Model 3.”

Today, AutoCar reports that Nissan’s Gareth Dunsmore revealed a range of 310 to 340 miles (NEDC of course, which translates to around 240 miles EPA) should be viable for production in 2018, as long as the battery meets Nissan’s durability targets and price range. A range of 230 miles puts the Nissan Leaf on level ground with the Chevrolet Bolt’s 200+ miles range, and the Tesla Model 3‘s “at least 210 miles range” ratings.

The current Nissan Leaf comes with a 30kWh battery pack good for 107 miles, up from the 80-something range of the 24 kWh battery pack of the standard version Leaf.

Nissan says, that in a matter similar to Tesla, offering larger battery packs allows the company to give the electric vehicle longer range despite a lack of chemical and technological breakthroughs in batter technology.

The Nissan Leaf has “two battery options now, and will grow options, making it more accessible with a longer range and a price to match,” says Nissan’s Garith Dunsmore, director of Nissan’s Zero-Emissions business unit.

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11 Comments on "Next gen Nissan Leaf to come with more than 200 miles range – Bolt and Model 3 territory"

  1. It doesn’t make sense to wait. Bolt will be out within a few months. If Nissan is talking “viable for production in 2018” then I expect to have 30,000 miles on my Bolt before the new Leaf or the Tesla 3 become reasonably available.

  2. Archie Phillips | August 1, 2016 at 5:53 pm |

    When we were in Northern Europe recently, we saw block long charging stations with every conceivable brand of mid-size autos, ie, Tesla, VW, Renault, Peugeot, BMW, etc. What is the plug-in standard they were using? Why are not all these EVs for sale here in America?

  3. No one has the charging network like Tesla. I have a 2013 Leaf and I can’t make it from San Francisco to Santa Barbara. I had to rent a gas car. The short range of the Leaf reflects it’s price, that’s fine. I am willing to stop more often to do quick charge on a trip out of town. But just couple month a ago trying to plan a trip from SF to Santa Barbara is impossible. There just isn’t enough charging station string along Highway 101 to make the trip happen. That made me realize how important having a charging network is. None of the old auto manufacture are going to put together a decent charging network, they want us to continue to buy their fossil burning cars. Only Tesla is different as they are not chain down by legacy. I am going for a Model 3 later or if can’t wait that long then get a base Model S.
    The non-Tesla charging infrastructure in Calofornia is just shamefully inadequate compare to Oregon or Some EU countries. The auto makers wanting to sell more EVs should really put in more effort developing a charging infrastructure as making cars. Not just counting on government to pave the electric highway. If Nissan, GM, BMW, Volkswagon etc all chip in they can build just as good of fast charging network as Tesla, but that’s not going to happen isn’t it.

    • ROFL If you think the charging infrastructure is bad in California take a look at Ohio and Indiana.

  4. Why would I or anyone else EVER want to buy another Leaf. They burn up their packs via air cooling in stead of regulating temps via liquid. Why do they think their battery burners are ok? According to their head honcho, they told us, “even our bodiess are air cooled”. Obviously this poor soul doesn’t know what “SWEAT” is for, nor has he ever shed any, thinking over what a disaster their battery burners are. Our original 2011 – (VIN below 000700) nearing 65k miles now BARELY gets 50 miles range & I have to baby it like granny to do that.

  5. If I was the person in the previous comment, I’d be very happy. A simple adapter would give you access to Tesla Charge Points. A little thought would help.
    On the subject of Charge Points. Consider if you will Australia’s reluctance to anything other than tax furnishing oil based fuel. New South Wales has to be as advanced as Madagascar when it comes to absolutely any Charge Point infrastructure. For such an immense area of land, it is abysmal when it comes to EV acceptance.

  6. Our FIAT 500e lease will end Mid 2017 and we will not be purchasing it. While I would like to get a TESLA Model 3 next, they just won’t be available, especially at the lowest projected price point, so we plan on leasing or purchasing a BOLT, the decision depending on the cost of lease vs loan. Like WOZ, we might actually prefer the BOLT! Our other car is a 2010 HONDA ICE Accord 4 dr and I think we’ll keep it for longer trips in CA, and beyond. As early EV adaptor we need to be flexible while the technology evolves. Everything good takes time.

  7. Stuart Sugden | October 6, 2016 at 3:40 am |

    On the charging issue (or one of them) I live in Berkeley. Within a 12 mile range there are just 4 fast charging stations where I can fast charge in 20-30 minutes. (I have a Kia Soul which I love) There are THREE at three different Whole Foods and one at Emeryville Marktplace. While I am grateful that they are available it is rather pathetic that there is not more support from the State of California or City governments for fast charges. I know not of a single one in the area. If we want more people to drive electric does it not make sense to have more charging stations that can charge really quickly? Whole Foods should not really be the leader in this though I appreciate their contribution.

  8. Patience, everybody! We get what we pay for: I bought a 2014 Leaf S with the Fast Charge option, and love it. I paid far less than I would have for a Bolt or Tesla, and the Leaf works great for 98% of our needs (we have a Tiguan for the other 2%, or when the wife and I need to be in different places at the same time).
    An emerging technology takes time. Unless you really need 200+ miles range, I would jump on one of the just-off-lease EVs starting to flood the marketplace at give-away prices!

  9. Michael Cerkowski | February 7, 2017 at 7:22 am |

    The “Release Date: late 2016” is looking pretty silly. You may want to fix that. Of course, we still have no idea if it will be “late 2017” or “Sometime in 2018, hopefully.”

  10. Marylander here, just bought a Leaf lease turn in, my first EV and my only vehicle, and I live in a townhouse w/out a garage. I got a 2015, 14,000 miles on it, has a quick charge port- for under $10,000. At first I was a bit panicked about charging and range, but – there are chargers at my office, a quick chargers at a gas station and the organic market (Mom’s) where I shop anyway- I think I can do this without having to put in a level 2 charger at home for a while.
    I don’t expect my Leaf to last more than a few years or so but I am THRILLED to opt out of supporting the environmentally disasterous and politically offensive fossil fuel industry.

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