Nissan Bumps Up Battery Range Of Leaf By 27 Percent

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The 2016 version of the Nissan Leaf will now be able to travel an estimated 107 miles between charges, a 27 percent increase over the original version of the battery-electric vehicle.

The Japanese maker is taking advantage of improvements in lithium-ion technology to squeeze a 30 kilowatt-hour battery into the 2016 model. Until now, the Nissan Leaf had used a 24 kWh pack. Nissan now claims to offer "best-in-class" range, and the numbers are better than such competitors as the Ford Focus EV that get less than 100 miles per charge. But it still lags well behind the much costlier Tesla Model S, as well as the 200-mile Bolt model Chevrolet is currently developing.

While critics say the technology isn’t evolving fast enough, proponents note that lithium batteries are becoming more powerful, smaller, and less expensive. Where lithium-ion batteries were running as much as $1,000 a kWh when the Leaf came to market in late 2009, industry insiders say that has dropped to as little as $400 today. The goal is to reach $200 or less before decade’s end.

For 2016, a Leaf S with the current, 24 kWh battery will hold its base price – before federal and state tax incentives – to $29,860. That includes $850 in delivery charges. Range remains 84 miles.

The new 30 kWh pack will be standard equipment in more SV and SL premium versions. The 2016 Nissan Leaf SL will start at $35,250, including delivery, while the SV base price will be $37,640. All models are eligible for a $7,500 U.S. tax credit and other local and state incentives.

The 2016 model will retain the same powertrains as in the 2015 Nissan Leaf, an 80 kilowatt AC synchronous motor making 107 horsepower and 187 pound-feet of torque.

While Nissan notes it has so far sold 185,000 Leafs worldwide, proponents acknowledge demand for the little battery car – and virtually all of its competitors – has fallen short of expectations. And with gas prices sliding, demand for hybrids, plug-ins, and pure battery-electric vehicles has slipped in the U.S. by double digits since the beginning of the year. 

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