Today’s news that UK is to become the third global manufacturing location for Nissan electric vehicles is great news for Sunderland in the UK. Nissan’s decision also sees the UK as a leader in the development and commercial production of low and zero emission cars.
The first in a range of Nissan electric vehicles is the Nissan LEAF announced by Nissan as the world’s first affordable, mass produced zero emission car. Production is to begin in early 2013.
Initial annual production capacity in Sunderland will be about 50,000 units. Together with Sunderland battery plant production, this represents more than a 420 million GBP (468.2 million euro) investment in zero emission mobility.
Nissan also said that construction of its advanced lithium-ion battery plant, announced last year, is to begin this April. The Sunderland facility will have a production capacity of 60,000 units a year and will start manufacturing batteries in 2012 for both Nissan and its Alliance partner Renault.
Andy Palmer, senior vice president at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and responsible for the company's global EV strategy, said: “The world is at the dawn of a new era in automotive transport. Nissan LEAF, which will go on sale later this year, is a five-seater hatchback that offers the same space, practicality and performance of a similar car in its class – minus the tailpipe emissions."
Production of Nissan LEAF will begin in Oppama, Japan later this year followed by Smyrna, Tennessee, USA in 2012. Sunderland will come on-line in early 2013 with an initial annual production capacity of about 50,000 units.
The three production sites will support the sales launch of the model, which begins in late 2010 in Japan, the United States and selected European markets, ahead of global mass marketing from 2012.
Nissan and its Alliance partner Renault are the only automakers committed to mass marketing pure electric vehicles on a global scale and together have announced production capacity of 500,000 units per year.
Last December, Nissan and Regional Development Agency One North East signed a definitive agreement on zero emission mobility. The agreement includes the development of a regional network of charging points, supply of Nissan LEAF to the region from early 2011 and a range of incentives for early adopters of EVs, such as a period of free charging and use of dedicated EV lanes.
Although zero-emission vehicles are the centerpiece of Nissan’s product strategy, the company is also investing in a portfolio of low-emission technologies (called PureDrive) such as clean diesels, efficient internal-combustion engines and hybrids.
The speed of success of the electric car in UK will very much depend on the building of a supporting infrastructure of charging points, and the sweeping away of the vestiges of consumer resistance to EVs and their perceived shortcomings compared to conventional engined cars.
NISSAN LEAF at a glance:
- World’s first affordable, mass produced zero emission car
- Five-seater C-segment hatchback
- Powered by an 80kW electric motor
- Charges to 80% of capacity in under 30 minutes (rapid charging)
- Real-world range: 160 km (100 miles - US-LA 4 mode)
- Top speed of more than 140 km/h (90 mph)
- Produced on all-new dedicated EV platform
- Try the Green-Car-Guide for more information of Leaf and electric cars
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