The Nissan LEAF, the best-selling electric vehicle so far this year, in Spain, Europe and the world, is demonstrating how zero-emission electric mobility is already a reality today.
Nissan's aspirations for this year is to sell 4,500 units of the LEAF in the Spanish market, which will mean tripling the volume of the previous year. This figure, never seen before in the Spanish market, is starting to position the Nissan LEAF as a volume vehicle alongside other competing models.
The Nissan LEAF is starting to cease being an electric vehicle to be, in addition to the icon of Nissan's sustainable mobility, a vehicle that can compete on equal terms with other vehicles in its category of traditional combustion propulsion.
Recently, at the Geneva Motor Show, Nissan already announced that total sales in the world had reached 400,000 units. In addition, the expansion of the LEAF e+ offer in Europe with new versions (Tekna and M-Connecta) and technological improvements has also been announced. This model has an estimated range of 385 km* on a single charge, as well as an impressive power of 217 hp that allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.1 s. This version is equipped as standard with the advanced ProPILOT driving assistance technology.
But Nissan's electrified commitment is expanding in terms of engines. Also at the Geneva Motor Show, Nissan announced that it will market models with e-POWER technology in Europe in 2022.
The e-POWER system has been a success among Japanese consumers, as it has managed to place the Nissan Note as the best-selling car in the country. The models with e-POWER technology combine a fully electric motor with a gasoline engine that recharges the battery, so the user can enjoy instant and smooth acceleration, as well as excellent fuel consumption.
The commercialization of this technology in Europe will reinforce Nissan's leadership in terms of electric vehicles in this region, where the Nissan LEAF is already the best-selling electric car. The e-POWER system is based on the success of the LEAF and will be one of several innovative technologies that will be incorporated into Nissan's best-selling models in the Old Continent over the next three years. In 2022, sales of Nissan electric vehicles will have multiplied by five and, by the end of that year, will already account for more than double the market average.
The e-POWER system includes a gasoline engine with an electric generator, a converter, a battery and an electric motor. The gasoline engine is only used to recharge the high-power battery, so it always operates at optimum speed. This feature translates into better fuel consumption and fewer emissions compared to a traditional internal combustion engine.
e-POWER technology is already incorporated in the Note and Serena models in Japan. More than 70% of the Notes and almost half of the Serenas sold in the country are e-POWER versions.
To complete Nissan's electrified offer, the brand also presented the IMQ prototype at the Geneva Motor Show, which indicates the path for the next generation of crossovers. This model combines Nissan's crossover leadership with its leadership in electric vehicles, incorporating e-POWER technology.
About Nissan in Spain
Nissan has five production centers in Spain: in Barcelona, Ávila and Cantabria, where it manufactures the NV200 van, both the combustion engine and the electric version, which is the best-selling in Europe, the Navara pick-up and the NT400/Cabstar light truck. It also manufactures components for several plants of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, has an R&D center for all of Europe, a distribution hub and a spare parts center. Barcelona is home to the commercial headquarters for Spain and Portugal, countries in which Nissan leads electric mobility and the crossover segment, and has a network of more than 200 sales and after-sales points that cover the entire Iberian Peninsula. In Spain, Nissan employs 5,000 people.