Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
Different Type Of Electric Vehicles (EVs): An Introduction
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Electric Cars: Benefits Of Electric Driving: Top 5
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What Is Regenerative Braking: The Complete Guide For Ireland
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Benefits Of Green Energy: A Guide For Ireland
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EV Charging Cables: A Guide For Ireland
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How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car At Home: The Complete Guide For Ireland
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The All-Electric Nissan Leaf Hatchback
The Nissan Leaf, is one of the best-selling electric cars globally, with nearly 600,000 sold to date. The BEV was first introduced in 2010 in Japan & the United States. It was introduced Ireland in 2011. The electric Leaf is now sold in over 59 markets across the globe. In fact, in celebration of the inaugural World EV Day (September 9th 2020), Nissan marked the production of the 500,000th Leaf. Europe remains the largest market for the plug-in electric Leaf, followed by the United States and Japan.
It has the unique distinction of being the first mass-market electric car in the world. Since its launch, the ubiquitous EV has won numerous prestigious awards, to include, the 2018 World Green Car at the New York International Auto Show for the second generation Leaf. The first generation Nissan Leaf won the 2011 World Car of the Year. In 2019, the Nissan Leaf was awarded the ‘Car of the Year’ in the Stuff Gadget Awards.
Most of us in Ireland would have come across the pure electric Nissan Leaf, popular with both, families and company-car drivers. The latest generation of the Leaf has much to offer. The EV is available in two EV battery sizes: 40 kWh and 62 kWh.
The choice of two EV battery sizes increases the potential customer base, as not every EV driver needs a large onboard EV battery and long electric range. Both battery sizes offer a useful and practical pure electric range. The 40 kWh has a zero-emission electric range up to 270 km (WLTP), while the 62 kWh offers a range up to 385 km (WLTP).
Even adjusting for real-world driving conditions, both options remain useful! For the 39 kWh expect a real-world emission-free e-range closer to 220 km, while for the larger battery, 335 km miles will be more realistic. More than adequate for city and motorway driving.
The Nissan EV incorporates a single-phase (6.6 KW AC) onboard charger. More than adequate for EV home charging in Ireland, given that the majority of homes have single-phase power supply. The 40 kWh EV can be fully charged in 7 hours and 30 minutes using a dedicated residential EV charger like easee.
The 62 kWh can be full charged in 11 hours. Though the Nissan electric car can be charged via a domestic 3-PIN socket, we at e-zoomed discourage the use of a domestic socket to charge an electric car. It will take 21 hours to charge the 40 kWh battery and 31 hours to charge the 62 kWh battery.
We at e-zoomed recommend charging overnight when the electricity prices are lower. We also recommend charging on a regular basis. This way charging times are reduced and regular charging is good for the long-term maintenance of the onboard EV battery. Nisan offers a 8 years/ 160,000 km warranty for the EV battery.
The Nissan Leaf electric hatchback also offers DC charging capability. However, DC charging is limited to 50 kW, which is certainly not class-leading. Most of the more recent EV introductions offer DC charging capability at 100 kW DC and faster. Nevertheless, the Nissan EV can be charged reasonably fast. For the 40 kWh EV battery it will take up to 60 minutes to charge from 20% to 80%. For the 62 kWh it will take 90 minutes.
In terms of the exterior styling, though the Nissan Leaf has improved, it has retained a balanced mix between a traditional and futuristic design, enabling the EV to appeal to a wider consumer base. The EV has a host of safety features and technology to offer, depending on the trim chosen.
Some of these include: ProPILOT, ProPILOT park, intelligent cruise control, intelligent lane intervention, blind spot intervention, lane departure warning, 8″ display screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, 7″ TFT screen combimeter and more. In terms of practicality, the EV offers 435 L boot space.
In terms of performance, the front-wheel drive Nissan Leaf (40 kWh) achieves 0-100 km/h in 7.9 seconds (max power: 150 PS/ torque: 320 Nm). The 62 kWh variant is faster and achieves 0-100 km/h in 6.9 seconds (max power: 217 PS/ torque: 340 Nm).
The 62 kW has a 157 km/h top speed compared to 144 km/h for the 40 kWh variant. The EV offers one-pedal driving (to include regenerative braking). Of course, the electric car also benefits from instant torque.
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| A good all-rounder and affordable electric car | DC charging limited to 50 kW |
| Two EV battery size options | Onboard charger limited to 6.6 kW AC |
| Decent electric range | Headroom for rear seats limited |
Gallery
The All-Electric Nissan Leaf Hatchback (credit: Nissan)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Vehicle Type: | Hatchback |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (4 Options) |
|---|
| Nissan Leaf XE (from € 28,145): 40 kWh |
| Nissan Leaf SV (from € 29,935): 40 kWh / 62 kWh |
| Nissan Leaf SV Premium (from € 31,025): 40 kWh / 62 kWh |
| Nissan Leaf SVE Premium (from € 33,350): 40 kWh / 62 kWh |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in two battery sizes: 40 kWh/ 62 kWh |
| Charging: | 50 kW DC Rapid Charging. Onboard charger: 6.6 kW AC |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 8 years/ 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1540 |
| Width (mm): | 1788 |
| Length (mm): | 4490 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2700 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.2 |
| Boot Space (L): | 435 |
| Leaf 40 kWh | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 40 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 270 km |
| Electric Consumption (Wh/100km): | 171 |
| Charging: | 50 kW DC Rapid Charging (20% to 80%: 60 mins). Onboard charger: 6.6 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 144 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 7.9 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 110 |
| Max Power (PS): | 150 |
| Torque (Nm): | 320 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Kerb Weight (kg): | 1,518 – 1,594 |
| Colours: | 10 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
| Leaf 62 kWh | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 62 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 385 km |
| Electric Consumption (Wh/100km): | 185 |
| Charging: | 50 kW DC Rapid Charging (20% to 80%: 90 mins). Onboard charger: 6.6 kW AC (0%-100%: 11 hrs) |
| Top Speed: | 157 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 7.1 seconds |
| Drive: | Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 160 |
| Max Power (PS): | 217 |
| Torque (Nm): | 340 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Weight (kg): | 1,700 – 1,736 |
| Colours: | 10 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Electric Vehicles (EVs): Top 5 Jargons
There is no doubt, in that, for those new to electric driving, the terminology can be both daunting and confusing. We have chosen the top 5 jargons to help you get more familiar with electric vehicles (EVs)!
| Top 5 Jargons : Electric Vehicles (EVs) | |
|---|---|
| EV (Electric Vehicle) | An EV is any vehicle that uses ‘electricity’ or an ‘electric motor’ to power the vehicle. The electric motor derives its power from a rechargeable battery or batteries. In general, EVs are less dependent on petrol or diesel as fuel, and in the case of pure electric cars, not dependent at all, on petrol/diesel for propulsion. EVs encompass all types of electric vehicles, to include Battery-Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Extended Range Electric Vehicles (E-REVs) and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs). |
| Regenerative Braking | Driving at all times requires braking. However, on more densely populated roads, the frequency and intensity of braking increases, reducing the efficiency of the vehicle. Regenerative braking is the process of capturing energy, otherwise wasted during braking. According to the rules of physics, energy cannot be destroyed, instead it simply transfers from one state to another. The same principle applies to braking. The kinetic energy that propels a car forward is usually displaced or wasted as heat. Regenerative braking captures this kinetic energy, that in turn recharges an onboard EV battery, increasing both efficiency and electric range. Electric cars like Toyota Prius PHEV, Jaguar I-PACE BEV and Tesla Model 3 BEV use regenerative braking to increase efficiency and electric range. |
| Torque | Torque (Nm) is the measure of the force that can cause an object to rotate about an axis. Torque is a key factor in determining acceleration of a vehicle and is defined as the engines rotational speed. Torque is most commonly defined as the force required to twist an object. For example, a wrench being used. The heavier a car, the more important is the role of torque i.e. the vehicle needs more rotational force to help it accelerate faster. |
| WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) | In a bid to continue to improve the quality of data released by automotive manufacturers (OEMs), on efficiency, range and CO2 emissions, Europe has introduced the WLTP testing procedure. WLTP is seen as a significant improvement over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) testing standard designed in the 1980s. In general, WLTP data is more realistic compared to NEDC! WLTP has been developed with the aim of becoming a global standard, so that cars can be easily compared between regions. However, real world driving data will still differ from WLTP data. As an example, the real world electric range of an electric car can be significantly lower than the stated WLTP range, depending on driving style, driving conditions, weather, onboard services used and more! |
| ULEVs (Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles) | An ultra low emission vehicle is any vehicle that emits less than 75g of CO2/km and is capable of operating with zero-tailpipe emissions for at least 10 miles. In general, ULEVs release emissions that are at least 50% lower than petrol and diesel cars, by using low carbon technologies. ULEVs include all types of electric vehicles: BEVs, PHEVs, E-REVs etc. and are a key solution in improving air quality. There are currently numerous ULEVs available, to include e-cars, e-vans, e-motorcycles, e-mopeds and e-taxis. Examples include: Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, MINI Countryman PHEV and Renault Kangoo ZE. |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
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