Sat behind the wheel of an all-electric Nissan Leaf in South Africa, I had a feeling of déjà vu. Almost exactly two years ago, I had the privilege to drive the Leaf in Durban during the climate change conference, COP 17 (read impression here). The Joule, South Africa’s electric vehicle, was also on display and a lot has changed since then. The Joule is no more and the Leaf is now for sale in our market…
History of the Leaf
The Nissan Leaf is a truly revolutionary car and labelled as the first mass-produced all electric vehicle. Worldwide it has sold close to 90 000 units and covered millions of kilometres under private ownership. It has even won the World Car of the Year title in 2011 and sparked interest in electric vehicles as a true alternative to fossil fuel burning transport.
Why the wait?
So why are we only getting the Leaf in South Africa now and what has changed since COP17? According to Nissan, it first had to conduct studies to ensure that our market would be ready for electric vehicles and this included many dealings with Eskom and government. Kudos to Nissan for taking the brave step as there is still no sight of public charging infrastructure or government incentives. The truth is that people that can afford a Leaf will be affluent and own a house with garage where the Leaf can be charged overnight and most people commute less than 100 km per day.
South African roll-out plan
The roll-out of the Leaf in South Africa will commence in two phases with the first phase involving seven specialist Nissan dealerships in the Gauteng region which will be able to sell and service the Leaf. As an added bonus, a fast charger will be available at each dealership for Leaf owners to use free of charge. Phase two will involve dealerships in Cape Town and Durban in the middle of next year.
Green living
We visited an interesting “green” home in an upmarket estate which was completely off the electrical grid. Solar panels on the roof charge an array of batteries stored in the garage, which then powers the house. The owner ordered a Leaf and will truly be able to claim no-emissions green motoring as it will be run off renewable energy. According to Nissan, it will not only be private individuals that will be interested but also fleet buyers as it sends out a strong environmental message to their customers. The first shipment of 40 Leafs has arrived in South Africa but there is no limit to the number of vehicles that can be ordered.
Driving experience
To drive the Leaf is as simple as driving an automatic car. Switch on and select D (for drive) before moving off in silence with excellent response from the electric motor. The ride is very comfortable as the vehicle is softly sprung but still exhibits good handling qualities owing to the low centre of gravity as the heavy batteries are stored in the floor. Push the vehicle too hard in a corner, though, and the mass is felt as the front wheels start protesting. All-in-all, perfect for city commuting. A short stint on the motorway also proved that you will be able to get a speeding fine relatively easily. Eco mode provides stronger regenerative braking, optimises the climate control and alters the accelerator response to enhance possible range.
Inside
The cabin is more function over form with piano-black adding some class (until greasy fingers touch the surface). The instrument binnacle is two-level affair with most information on the lower tier and vehicle speed on the upper tier. The steering wheel is only adjustable for rake but the seating position is comfortable. Rear access is good and it should just be able to fit three adults on the rear bench. The decent size boot should also cope with most luggage needs.
Summary
The biggest obstacle the Leaf will face in South Africa might not be the acceptance of electric technology or the lack of charging infrastructure but the arrival of very strong competition in the form of the VW e-Golf and BMW i3. Especially the i3 (read impression here) is pushing the technological boundaries of electric vehicles to a new level, but you will have to wait an extra year before you can buy one. The problem with a technological race is that the newer model makes the previous one look outdated very quickly. This applies to computers, cell phones and by the look of it, electric vehicles. For now the Leaf deserves it place in the sun and makes zero (local) emission driving possible for the first time on our roads.
FAST FACTS
Model: Nissan Leaf
Price: R446 000 + approximately R30 000 home charger
Electric motor: synchronous
Power: 80 kW
Torque: 254 N.m
Transmission: single-speed direct drive
0-100 km/h: 11,9 seconds
Top speed: 145 km/h
Range: 195 km on NEDC
Charging time: approx. 8 hours from household charger and 30 minutes (to 80% charge) at fast charger
Warranty: 3 years/100 000 km including battery
Service plan: 3 years/90 000 km