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The Nissan LEAF is an all-electric, zero-emissions vehicle coming to North America, with one if its first markets being Portland. On display at OMSI until December 23 as part of the Nissan LEAF Zero Emissions Tour, the LEAF will go 100 miles on a charge, have a top-speed of 90 mph, fully charge its lithium-ion batteries using 220V power in eight hours, and will seat five people. It also features recycled materials extracted from soda bottles and home appliances. Portland will receive 1,000 LEAF vehicles.
The LEAF is about the size to a Toyota Prius, and will go on sale in December 2010. Portland, along with Vancouver, B.C. and Seattle, will have a full charging infrastructure in place to accommodate the EVs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Portland itself will have up to 2,500 charging stations.
Portland Mayor, Sam Adams, said, “We’re working hard to create a seamless system between Eugene and Vancouver, B.C. to make sure we have charging stations through the entire I-5 Pacific Northwest,” Adams went on to say, “We’re going to have the infrastructure in place to make sure that this is a successful introduction to North America.”
Seattle-area Electric Transportation Engineering Corporation, or eTec, received a $100 million grant as part of the stimulus package through the U.S. Department of Energy, to build the charging stations that will be located in Portland, as well as Seattle, Vancouver, B.C., San Diego, CA, Tennessee, Arizona, and others areas.
In addition to the public charging stations, LEAF owners will be able to charge their vehicles at home, too using a 220V plug. In fact, although a full charge will take eight hours, a quick charge—up to 80%—can be done in less than 30 minutes. (FYI, the little pop-up door on the vehicle’s nose is where you plug the vehicle in.)
Mayor Sam Adams said, “We are passionate about EVs because they will help Portland and the Portland region meet our climate action goals, reducing our carbon emissions by 80% based on 1990 levels.”
Adams went on to say that he wants Portland to be a North American hub for electric vehicles.
For more information on the LEAF, visit http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/.
So excited to see some automakers taking initiative on pollution issues. They will certainly lead the charge in changing the face of our global climate issues and be heroes for it. I will be doing my part by patronizing my local St. Louis Nissan Dealer for sure.
I'm sorry to see that even though they are bringing the Leaf EV here to Portland in '11, they were just bringing it by to show as an exhibit instead of a drive and ride to actually get a good impression how this car may do in the community.
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