Last week, Nissan provided the best overview of its future lineup and electric vehicle plans for the coming years — and a very early look at what the successor to the Nissan Leaf could look like around the middle of the decade. this.
The summary, called Ambition 2030, marking the restart of Nissan – with plans to introduce 23 electric models to Nissan and Infiniti globally, of which 15 will be all-electric. An investment of about $17.6 billion will fund solid-state battery development, including a test plant in 2024 and production planned in 2028.
Nissan sold state plans
Of the several concepts shown as part of last week’s presentation, the Chill-Out concept was one that could continue the market position and the values of the Leaf — albeit with possible cross-influence. a little more, when the market is heading.
The automaker suggests that the Chill-Out concept, a hatchback with crossover markings and a taller profile, is built on the same CMF-EV platform as the upcoming version. Ariya and including Ariya’s e-4orce . all-wheel drive, which allows for improved handling and ride through nuanced engine controls.
For when to launch the next-generation Leaf — or its successor — we can look at last year’s commitment to bring a next-generation AESC battery factory to the UK, with The cells will be used for a “new generation electric crossover”, after the current Leaf built there ends, around 2024.
Nissan Chill-Out concept
In his presentation last week, COO Ashwani Gupta emphasized that the automaker wants to make its electric vehicles a premium value – that is, both more fun and more accessible. “We are working on several levels to make EVs more competitive, including improvements in battery and production efficiency,” he said.
Part of that will be done through a new effort to integrate core components of the electronic powertrain, achieving a 30% cost reduction by 2026, the executive said. It will also take a new localized approach to production, with battery production close to vehicle production.
Nissan’s CMF-EV Platform
The news is welcome as for several years Nissan’s aggressive EV plans have stalled. Company officials also pushed the date to later and became increasingly ambivalent about what was once a much-anticipated next wave of powertrain technology to sweep through the lineup, hybrid system, called e-Power for Nissan and also by the Infiniti line. Recently, Infiniti confirmed that Hybrid plans have been made.
What Chill-Out suggests is most likely two vehicles — one with a lower ride height and acting as a true successor to the Leaf, the other more appealing with its sensibilities. crossover but sacrifices some range and efficiency.
In In support of that idea, we look forward to comment from Nissan’s Senior Vice President of Global Design, Alfonso Albaisa, who in a January interview with Green car report Calling the leaf a symbol and hinting that while Nissan may not be working on a direct replacement for the Leaf, Nissan understands the value of the nameplate and is not going to throw it away.
Nissan Leaf 2011
While the gap between the original Leaf’s launch and the upcoming Ariya is more than 10 years, “we can only imagine five more years, because it will accelerate,” says Albaisa.
“It really changed the world,” he said. “People take it for granted now… It’s a name that means a lot to our family and has important cultural value because it changed us.”
Earlier this year Nissan announced a thousands off on Leaves 2022—Probably in preparation to be sold together with Ariya.
Aditya Jairaj, Director of Marketing and Sales Strategy for Nissan Electric Vehicles in the US, recently told Green car report The knowledge that Nissan has about EV customers and how they use them will put them at an advantage when more EVs are available in the future.
“You’ve got 5 billion consumers driving on the road,” Jairaj said. There are half a million cars sold worldwide, 160,000 cars sold in the US; we understand some of the insights about it. customers, preferences and pain points, all of that.” “So we’ve learned from the Leaf, and we’ll continue to use it for the Leaf and for other EVs.”
In April, Nissan announced an “intent” to produce battery-powered electric vehicles that account for more than 40% of sales in the US through 2030, with additional sales from other electric vehicles such as hybrids and plug-in hybrids. It also says that “every all-new Nissan vehicle offered in key markets will be electrified” by the early 2030s.
Nissan Surf-Out, Max-Out and Hang-Out concepts
Nissan Hang-Out concept
Nissan Chill-Out concept
Bottom line: Nissan can’t do it with the Ariya alone. Given this information, it is very likely that there will be a Leaf successor, as well as a few more EVs by that time, even for the US. Precisely the alternate form of Leaf may still be incomplete – even in Yokohama.
Should Leaf’s successor be an effective no-frills leader, a technology showcase or a crossover? Let us — and perhaps Nissan — know in the comments section below.
