SAN DIEGO — Since launching the first mainstream electric vehicle nearly a decade ago, Nissan has been outgunned by faster, more powerful competitors that travel farther on a full charge. Now it is responding to the wave of modern EVs.
The new Leaf Plus, with expected range of up to 226 miles, enables the grandfather of affordable EVs to keep pace with the Chevrolet Bolt (238 miles), Hyundai Kona (258 miles) and Tesla's base Model 3 (220 miles).
Research shows that 200 miles is the threshold of comfort for those who are considering switching to EVs, Jean-Philippe Lattes, Nissan's senior manager of EV marketing and sales, said here at a Leaf Plus press event.
The Leaf Plus will arrive in U.S. showrooms starting in early March. Pricing was undisclosed, but a source told Automotive News it will start at about $36,000, before tax incentives. That would put the extended-range Leaf on a par with the Bolt and Kona. The Leaf was Nissan's fastest-growing nameplate in the U.S. last year, with sales up 31 percent to 14,715 vehicles from 2017.
The Leaf Plus will be sold alongside the current-generation Leaf, which has a 150-mile range. Having two powertrains makes the model line more accessible, said IHS Markit analyst Stephanie Brinley.
"If you need that extra range for your lifestyle, it's available," Brinley said.
Meanwhile, there's also an option for customers seeking a more affordable price, she said.
Brinley likens the Leaf's dual battery offerings to a gasoline-powered vehicle available with a regular four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged version.
"As you see the EV market begin to mature, you may see more EV makers start to take this route," she said.
Lattes expects the Leaf Plus to mostly attract customers new to the brand.
"Leaf is really a big conquest vehicle for us," he said. "With a car that has now more capability, we see there is even more room for conquest."
