Nissan to build Leaf electric vehicle also in Sunderland, UK

By George on March 19th, 2010

nissan-leaf-6 Nissan’s electric Leaf production in Japan will start end of this year. Production in US will start in 2012 and in addition this zero-emissions electric car will be produced at the company’s Sunderland plant in the UK in 2013.

The Sunderland plant will have a capacity of 50,000 LEAF units per annum. That is surely a big change towards electric future in the auto industry.

Nissan also said that construction of its advanced lithium-ion battery plant, announced last year, will begin this April. The facility, which will be located at Sunderland, 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.

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