Japanese carmaker Nissan announced on Monday the company’s Leaf electric car would be sold in Europe for under 30,000 euros (US$37,000) after various government incentives.
The Leaf, which stands for Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family car, is billed by Nissan as the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle with zero emissions.
The car will go on sale in Portugal and the Netherlands in December, and will arrive at Britain and Ireland in February next year, Nissan announced at a London press conference on Monday.
PHOTO: AFP
Reservations can be made from July, while the car will be rolled out every major western European country by the end of next year.
“Nissan leads the industry by being the first automaker to offer an affordable zero-emission car,” said Simon Thomas, senior vice president of sales and marketing, adding the price will include the cost of a lithium battery.
“It’s a pure electric vehicle, with no tailpipe emissions and very low running costs,” he said.
The vehicle will cost 29,955 euros in Portugal and 29,995 euros in Ireland after government incentives.
In Britain, the Leaf will sell for £23,350 (US$34,000) after a state incentive of £5,000.
The price in the Netherlands will be 32,839 euros — but there will be extra subsidies that will slash the cost by between 6,000 euros and 19,000 euros.
The Japanese firm, which is 43.4-percent owned by France’s Renault, forecasts that electric vehicles will account for ten percent of worldwide car sales by 2020.
The five-seater hatchback Leaf has a range of 160km, can be rapid-charged to 80 percent of its battery capacity in 30 minutes, and travels at a top speed of more than 140kph.
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