"We are on a highway to hell" it booms from the bass boxes on both sides of the stage. These are unmistakably the hard rock tones of the Australian band AC / DC, whose name, what a coincidence, already bears the abbreviations for direct and alternating current. But the musical opening of the presentation of the new electric Nissan Leaf in Tenerife is not to be taken literally. The Japanese manufacturer is on the right track with its best-selling electric car in the world. While other manufacturers are still considering venturing into the market, which is still reticent due to the still high acquisition costs and range problems, with a Stromer at all, Nissan is already presenting the successor after 300 first-generation Leaf, which was launched in 000, worldwide.
Between roaring wind turbines, solar collectors shimmering in the evening sun and the 25 CO2-neutral and yet nice little houses of the ecovillage "Casas Bioclimaticas" in the south of the largest of the Canary Islands, it is particularly nice to chat about the future of electromobility. The fact that the personal ecological balance of everyone invited here is already heavily burdened by the flight of several hours cannot be compensated for even with continuous driving with electric cars and the guaranteed emission-free hot morning shower. That should be kept in mind.
The next day starts with a cool nine degrees for local conditions. These are not the best conditions for an electric car, whose lithium-ion battery estimates outside temperatures of 19 degrees once more. Cold kills range, especially if you do not want to do without the comfort of a heater inside. After all, Nissan has thoroughly reworked the electrochemical storage for the Leaf. Instead of 30 kWh, 40 kWh now fit into the battery, which remains large and stored in the vehicle floor. For comparison, a Tesla S has a capacity of 60 kWh, a Renault Zoe 22 kWh and the small VW e-up! 18,7 kWh. With the stronger battery, the range of the four-door also increases. However, in the European NEDC measuring cycle, where the actual predominant use of an electric car in city traffic is not considered sufficiently realistic, the range of 250 increases to 378 kilometers. In the more realistic WLTP test, the Leaf is now to come in a combined cycle around 270 kilometers with one battery charge, in city-only operation up to 415 km.
As before, the high loading sill
Ready to board. The luggage finds its way over the still quite high loading sill only with much momentum. But the trunk volume with 435 liters sometimes enough for the luggage of four people for a short break. Externally, the compact Stromer, here and now in innocent white, is no longer as bumpy as before. The designers have drawn him much sharper, which, contrary to the commonly assumed preference for pouty lips and Glupschaugen also arrives in women better. Almost unchanged in its dimensions, the Japanese with the chrome V-Grill between the narrow LED headlamps brand typical, the charging port is hidden as usual under a flap in the front. Loading without stooping, promises Nissan.
Range realities now according to WLTP
Inside, one looks at an analog speedometer that shows the speed, next to it a digital info display informs about the charge status of the battery, the range and the respective power flow. If necessary, an app provides information about charging stations and their availability. The steering wheel sits comfortably in the hand, and small recessed grips make handling easier. Unfortunately, it is height, but not depth adjustable, so it takes a little longer to find the right sitting position on the pretty seats with the blue decorative stitching. When you start on the 160-kilometer test route, the battery charge indicator on the speedometer shows 100 percent and a reassuring range of 255 kilometers. The difference to the WLTP range of 270 kilometers is quickly explained: the speedometer shows a range calculated by the on-board computer according to the driving style of the last driver. Does not matter.
Let it float silently
The powerful 150 PS / 110 kW electric motor silently drives the Leaf away from the parking lot towards the mountains. In the first roundabout, nobody can fool you so quickly: 320 Newton meters of torque from the stand cause surprise effects. With the power of its electric heart, the Leaf II accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 7,9 seconds. The maximum speed is - regulated - 144 km / h, more would overwhelm the battery. The Leaf rushes through one serpentine after the other, is sporty and dynamic. The steering feels direct, the chassis is tight, but not uncomfortable.
Eco mode and e-pedal save on the bet
The apex at 1760 meters above sea level is reached after almost 49 kilometers, the onward journey to the 3718 meter high Teide is forbidden by the weather. Snow drifts ensure that the pass road is completely closed. A look at the remaining battery capacity is not exactly euphoric at 45 percent for the remaining distance. It's good that it's all downhill from now on. After pressing the green Eco-Mode button, you inevitably become an energy curmudgeon, switch off all superfluous consumers and struggle for every meter of recuperation. The new so-called e-pedel comes in very handy. After pressing the light blue button in the center console, the vehicle brakes automatically when you take your foot off the accelerator. A low whirring noise and after a little patience you will be rewarded by the steadily increasing degree of battery charge. But only the following Leaf driver has the leisure to patiently follow this downhill ride in slow motion. Any other road user would have overtaken long ago and this driving style would certainly not have been punished without unfriendly comments.
Quite autonomous driving and parking as if by itself
In return, the recuperation provides 60 percent battery charge and a range of 118 kilometers. That is a decent cushion for the rest of the motorway stretch on which the ProPilot will finally be used. The driving assistant is activated via a blue button in the right steering wheel spoke and takes over the control of the steering, accelerator pedal and brakes, always in the lane and at a set distance from the vehicle in front. This makes long journeys or tedious driving in traffic jams easier, but the driver's hands always have to be nicely back on the steering wheel. As ProPilotPark, a parking assistant uses the ultrasonic sensor and the 360 degree camera system to find parking spaces and to park independently.
Drink tea and load
In its European version, the Leaf, which continues to be built in the UK in Sunderland, is loaded with a 2 type plug with up to 6,6 kW alternating current (AC). The charging process takes eight hours on a conventional household socket and six hours on a wallbox. On a CHAdeMO column, which fills up with 50 kW DC (DC) 80 percent of the battery, it's faster. Chademo means in Japanese "how about my cup of tea" and is supposed to mean that an empty electric car can be recharged in up to 30 minutes, as long as you need a cup of tea according to the Japanese tradition.
The entry-level price for the new Leaf, which will hit the streets in Europe in March, is 31 950 Euro, which still has the environmental bonus to be deducted. On board are always light and rain sensor, emergency brake and lane departure warning, cross traffic warning or traffic sign recognition, a radio and the charger for the two charging options.
Text and photos: Solveig Grewe