Nissan Leaf
One hundred years ago, electric vehicles were used for transportation. They were very popular in the early automobile market. There was a total of 34,000 electric automobiles on the road in 1912 which was the peak year for electric vehicles. However, when the gasoline powered vehicles became increasingly reliable, light-weight and able to travel farther on a tank of gas, the market for electric vehicles seemed to have vanished.
But the detrimental environmental impact of gasoline powered vehicles has led many manufactures such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, Chevrolet, and Ford to renewed interest in electric vehicles during the last few decades.
Today, one of the most famous electric vehicles is the Nissan Leaf. The vehicle was first launched in December 2010 in Japan and the United States, followed by some European countries and Canada in 2011, and was available in 35 countries as of January 2014. Since Nissan has dedicated to environmental protection under the Nissan Green program 2010, whose mission is reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling, the Nissan leaf was designed as a 100 percent electric, zero-emission car. As an all-electric car, the Nissan Leaf produces no tailpipe pollution or greenhouse gas emission at point of operation, and contributes to reduced dependence on petroleum. The lithium ion battery pack equipped on Leaf is half the weight and twice the power of the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in most hybrid cars, giving people an ultra-efficient ride.
In the 21st century, global warming has become a serious issue because it has started inducing the mass extinction of animals and plants, epidemics of contagious and parasitic diseases, droughts and floods. The major cause of global warming is the CO2 emission; and a gasoline powered vehicle is the main source of CO2 emission, as carbon dioxide is the main product of the combustion of gasoline. Additionally, gasoline is the product of refining of petroleum which is extracted from the earth crust. As a fossil fuel, petroleum reserve is limited and is being exhausted, so the price of gasoline tends to increase and is estimated to reach $20 per gallon by 2025. As a result, hybrid and electric vehicles are expected to replace the gasoline powered vehicles in the future.
Although electric vehicles seem to be the solution to the air pollution problem, persuading all of the people to drive one will not be easy because of two major technical drawbacks. First, the range on a single battery charge is limited. It is only about 73 miles for a Leaf. Secondly, the time to fully charge the battery pack is a few hours, making a long distance trip impossibly inconvenient. Richard Martin, editorial director for the clean technology marketing and consultant firm Navigant Research, stated: “Fast charging, however and whenever it gets built out, is going to be key for the development of a mainstream market for plug-in electric vehicles. The broader conflict between the CHAdeMO and SAE Combo connectors, we see that as a hindrance to the market over the next several years that needs to be worked out.” Additionally, the recharging station, providing the batteries with electrical energy, is not universal yet.
But the technology of electric vehicles has been gradually improved. In the case of Nissan leaf, it has been updated almost every year. With new designs and technologies becoming available virtually each year, continuous improvements are expected for this model of electric car. The range of battery in 2013 Leaf has been moved from a straight 73 miles to a blended 75 miles. Andy Palmer, a Nissan’s executive Vice-President, said that the Leaf would see a range improvement of reliable 124.2 miles within the current generational cycle. A long-range battery pack is a potential game changer for people who prefer electric vehicles to gasoline powered vehicles.
Although the Nissan Leaf has sold more than 100,000 units globally in 2013, making it the fastest- and best-selling electric vehicle ever produced, it also faces tough competition from improved gasoline powered vehicles, hybrids, and fuel-cell cars. A 2010 ZPryme Research survey of 1,046 U.S. residents revealed that most consumers were either "only somewhat likely" or "very unlikely" to buy an electric car within the next five years. However, with Congress’s new carbon taxes due to take effect soon, electric is the way to go, especially now that solar and other alternative energy sources are becoming more competitive. Therefore, in the next few decades, the electric vehicles will possibly edge out the conventional cars.
In the 21st century, Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their lifestyles on the environment. After all, the environment is the most important element for human lives, as everything would be gone if the earth were destroyed.
But the detrimental environmental impact of gasoline powered vehicles has led many manufactures such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, BMW, Chevrolet, and Ford to renewed interest in electric vehicles during the last few decades.
Today, one of the most famous electric vehicles is the Nissan Leaf. The vehicle was first launched in December 2010 in Japan and the United States, followed by some European countries and Canada in 2011, and was available in 35 countries as of January 2014. Since Nissan has dedicated to environmental protection under the Nissan Green program 2010, whose mission is reducing CO2 emissions, cutting other emissions and increasing recycling, the Nissan leaf was designed as a 100 percent electric, zero-emission car. As an all-electric car, the Nissan Leaf produces no tailpipe pollution or greenhouse gas emission at point of operation, and contributes to reduced dependence on petroleum. The lithium ion battery pack equipped on Leaf is half the weight and twice the power of the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in most hybrid cars, giving people an ultra-efficient ride.
In the 21st century, global warming has become a serious issue because it has started inducing the mass extinction of animals and plants, epidemics of contagious and parasitic diseases, droughts and floods. The major cause of global warming is the CO2 emission; and a gasoline powered vehicle is the main source of CO2 emission, as carbon dioxide is the main product of the combustion of gasoline. Additionally, gasoline is the product of refining of petroleum which is extracted from the earth crust. As a fossil fuel, petroleum reserve is limited and is being exhausted, so the price of gasoline tends to increase and is estimated to reach $20 per gallon by 2025. As a result, hybrid and electric vehicles are expected to replace the gasoline powered vehicles in the future.
Although electric vehicles seem to be the solution to the air pollution problem, persuading all of the people to drive one will not be easy because of two major technical drawbacks. First, the range on a single battery charge is limited. It is only about 73 miles for a Leaf. Secondly, the time to fully charge the battery pack is a few hours, making a long distance trip impossibly inconvenient. Richard Martin, editorial director for the clean technology marketing and consultant firm Navigant Research, stated: “Fast charging, however and whenever it gets built out, is going to be key for the development of a mainstream market for plug-in electric vehicles. The broader conflict between the CHAdeMO and SAE Combo connectors, we see that as a hindrance to the market over the next several years that needs to be worked out.” Additionally, the recharging station, providing the batteries with electrical energy, is not universal yet.
But the technology of electric vehicles has been gradually improved. In the case of Nissan leaf, it has been updated almost every year. With new designs and technologies becoming available virtually each year, continuous improvements are expected for this model of electric car. The range of battery in 2013 Leaf has been moved from a straight 73 miles to a blended 75 miles. Andy Palmer, a Nissan’s executive Vice-President, said that the Leaf would see a range improvement of reliable 124.2 miles within the current generational cycle. A long-range battery pack is a potential game changer for people who prefer electric vehicles to gasoline powered vehicles.
Although the Nissan Leaf has sold more than 100,000 units globally in 2013, making it the fastest- and best-selling electric vehicle ever produced, it also faces tough competition from improved gasoline powered vehicles, hybrids, and fuel-cell cars. A 2010 ZPryme Research survey of 1,046 U.S. residents revealed that most consumers were either "only somewhat likely" or "very unlikely" to buy an electric car within the next five years. However, with Congress’s new carbon taxes due to take effect soon, electric is the way to go, especially now that solar and other alternative energy sources are becoming more competitive. Therefore, in the next few decades, the electric vehicles will possibly edge out the conventional cars.
In the 21st century, Americans are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their lifestyles on the environment. After all, the environment is the most important element for human lives, as everything would be gone if the earth were destroyed.