Finally! For the first time, South Africans
can buy an all-electric passenger vehicle in the form of the Nissan Leaf
The Leaf was introduced in 2010 as the
first mass-produced EV. It even won the World Car of the Year title in 2011 and
sparked interest in electric vehicles as a true alternative to
fossil-fuel-burning transport.
The eventual roll-out of the Leaf in South
Africa will commence in two phases, with the first phase involving seven
specialist Nissan dealerships in the Gauteng region which will be able to sell
and service the Leaf. As an added bonus, a fast charger (capable of charging
the battery pack to 80% state of charge in around 30 minutes) will be available
at each dealership for Leaf owners to use free of charge. Phase two will
involve dealerships in Cape Town and Durban mid-year. The first shipment of 40
Leafs has arrived in South Africa but, although it will be a niche product,
there is no limit to the number of vehicles that can be ordered.
The
Leaf is responsive enough at motorway speeds
To pilot the Leaf is as simple as driving
an automatic car. Switch on and select drive before moving off in silence with
instant response from the electric motor. The ride is comfortable because the
vehicle is softly sprung, but it still exhibits good handling qualities under
normal driving conditions owing to the low centre of gravity (the heavy batteries
are stored in the floor). Push the vehicle too hard in a corner, though, and
the mass is felt as the front wheels start protesting. All in all, the Leaf is
perfect for city commuting.
The
Leaf’s cabin is bright, airy and cheerful, with good quality materials used
A short stint on the motorway also proved
that you will be able to get a speeding fine relatively easily. Eco mode
softens the accelerator pedal response and optimises the climate control to
enhance the possible range. B mode increases the regenerative braking effect
(that recovers kinetic energy) when lifting of the accelerator.
Only
those over six feet tall will find rear headroom tight. Legroom is decent
The cabin is more function over form, with
piano-black adding some class (until greasy fingers touch the surface). The
instrument binnacle is two-level affair, with most information on the lower
tier and vehicle speed on the upper tier. The steering wheel is adjustable only
for rake but the seating position is comfortable. Rear access is good and it
should just be able to fit three adults on the rear bench. The 370 dm3 boot
should also cope with most luggage needs.
The
front is roomy. Ergonomics and perceived quality are good
The biggest obstacle the Leaf will face in
South Africa might not be the acceptance of electric technology or the lack of
charging infrastructure, but the arrival of very strong competition in the form
of the VW e-Golf and BMW i3. The latter, in particular, will push the
technological boundaries of EVs to a new level, but you will have to wait to
the end of the year before you can buy one.
Boot
is an average size. The back seat splits and folds as in a conventional car’s
The problem with a technological race is
that the newer model makes the previous one look outdated very quickly. This
applies to computers, cellphones and, by the look of it, electric vehicles.
But, for now, the ground-breaking Leaf deserves its place in the sun and makes
zero (local) emission driving possible for the first time on our roads.
