The Nissan Leaf electric car will go 100 miles on a charge and go on sale next year, the company says. See more photos of
the Leaf in today's slideshow.
Nissan today unveiled its upcoming all-electric five-door hatchback that seems poised to rival the ever-popular Toyota Prius (read review) and the 2011 Chevrolet Volt in attracting the most eco-conscious car buyers.
The new car, dubbed "Leaf," is set to go on sale in the U.S. late next year with a battery range of 100 miles and pricing more affordable than other electric vehicles, the company announced today.
Like the Prius and Volt, the Leaf is visually distinct from any gas-powered cars, though at 176 inches long it's roughly the size and shape of Nissan's compact Versa hatchback.
But unlike the Volt or Prius, the Leaf will have no gasoline fallback for when the battery is depleted. Nissan says its lithium-ion battery pack can be charged to 80 percent in half an hour with a quick charger; a full charge through a 200-volt outlet would take eight hours. The car's power monitor will also display nearby electric charging stations.
Of course, no gasoline engine means no emissions -- from the car at least. (Nissan repeatedly boasts that the car has no tail pipe.) Especially when it's powered up from an outlet that's hooked to clean energy grid, the Leaf will greatly cut down on its drivers' motoring emissions.
Nissan has yet to announce a specific price, on-sale date, or anticipated production levels for the Leaf, which will be built at several factories worldwide, including in Tennessee.
More specifics will likely emerge during the auto show season this winter.
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