Nissan confirms Australian pricing and August release of Leaf

The Driven

Australian electric vehicle drivers will be able to get their hands on the new model Nissan Leaf from August, the car maker has confirmed, when the long-awaited latest iteration of the world’s best selling EV will go on sale for just under $A50,000 (plus on road costs).

Nissan Australia said on Friday morning that Australian drivers could now register to per-order the Leaf 2.0, which has a 40kWh battery, improved power and torque, a driving range of up to 270km, and a “manufacturer suggested retail price” of $A49,990, plus on-road costs.

The new EV will be widely available – sold via 89 dealers nationwide, the car maker says. And buyers will be connected with Australian-owned outfit JET Charge, which partnered with Nissan last year to set up ‘at home’ charging solutions for Leaf owners.

The arrival of the new Leaf in Australia – just one month later than had been most recently promised by Nissan – will be welcomed by Australian EV enthusiasts and the broader industry, as Australia continues play catch-up on both electric vehicle uptake, and model availability.

Moderately-priced EVs are particularly thin on the ground in Australia, putting the low-carbon driving technology out of reach of the vast majority of drivers.

The Leaf, however, changes that – in the US it was last month named the lowest-cost EV to own over a five year period, taking home a coveted award from US car price guide site Kelley Blue Book.

Read the full story on RenewEconomy’s electric vehicle dedicated site, The Driven…