NISSAN electrifies the Philippine car market with the introduction of the all-new Nissan LEAF last May 9 via a Facebook virtual introduction.
The car plugs the Filipino car buyer into the fast-growing electric vehicle segment, seen to replace the internal combustion engine globally as early as 2050.
Priced at P2.79M and initially available only in three Nissan dealers nationwide, the LEAF–which is the acronym for Leading, Environmentally Friendly, Affordable, Family car–is the first comprehensive electric car introduction in the country.
Comprehensive because Nissan is also establishing 7 charging stations in the country through its dealerships, creating the largest nationwide EV charging station network, three of these are already operational and ready to receive plug-ins. The locations of the EV charging stations are strategic in terms of geography covered–designed to enable LEAF owners to travel the full extent of the over 300-kilometers single-charge range of the car.
In the official Facebook launch, the zero-emission LEAF is described to be “the embodiment of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the automotive company’s approach to changing the way cars are driven, powered, and integrated into society. The Nissan LEAF exemplifies this philosophy in three key aspects: Intelligent Power, Intelligent Driving, and Intelligent Integration.”
“Finally bringing the Nissan LEAF to the Philippines is a high point in our efforts throughout the years to inform and educate the Filipino public on the benefits of EV adoption. The Nissan LEAF is key to realizing our vision of enriching Filipino lives towards a more connected, sustainable, and resilient society,” Atsushi Najima, President and Managing Director of Nissan in the Philippines said.
A lot of electric experiences
For Nissan this realization developed over 21 years since the creation of its first production-viable EV, the Hypermini which was not launched despite technical competence and achievement because battery technologies were not yet fully developed. The first Nissan LEAF, launched in 2010 in the United States and Japan represented not only leaps in energy and battery technology development but also in powertrain technologies, which was observed from a distance by other car makers.
Unlike other car makers who entered the field early, Nissan opted to take the fully electric vehicle route, instead of a hybrid approach, because it was targeting a completely zero-emission footprint from the vehicle side. Hybrids operate with small-displacement petrol engines, to take away the biggest fear of electric vehicle owners–running out of power in the middle of nowhere.
And the pay-off for sticking to its electric-only approach has paid off in terms of advancements in production, technology and testing capabilities. Its’ knowledge and research are deep in terms of alternative fuel vehicles as it has been in the business of making electric vehicles–in prototype and production forms–for 47 years. And primarily because of the LEAF, Nissan is the number one seller of EVs in the world.
Intelligent power
The Nissan LEAF has a 40-kWh lithium-ion battery that has a range of up to 311 kilometers on a full charge, based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) standards. At about 80 percent of this battery usage, the car goes into a power-saving mode. According to Nissan, this range is the equivalent of traveling between Quezon City and Bonifacio Global City twice a day for five days for a daily commute or a one-way out-of-town trip to Baguio.
It uses an all-electric e-powertrain providing a maximum output of 110kW or 150ps and 320 Nm of instant torque. It can go from zero to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds, while reaching a top speed of 140 km/h.
Intelligent driving
It uses the advanced e-Pedal which allows drivers to start, accelerate, decelerate, and stop using just one pedal by increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to the electronic accelerator.
When fully released, regenerative and friction brakes are applied automatically, bringing the car to a complete stop. This is ideal for stop-and-go city traffic. Since the need to shift from one pedal to another is reduced, driving is simpler and more convenient.
The Nissan LEAF is also packed with intelligent driving assistance features that provide active safety and driving support and range from intelligent cruise control all the way to lane departure systems.
LEAF owners are provided with multiple charging options. Using a dedicated wall outlet at home which can charge the car between 15 to 18 hours using the supplied universal charging cable. There are currently three quick charging stations found in select Nissan dealerships nationwide that can fully charge the Nissan LEAF in as fast as 40 minutes.
Intelligent integration
Probably the most revolutionary feature is the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology that enables bi-directional charging to use energy from the LEAF battery to power homes and equipment, or simply give back energy to the power grid.
“The Nissan LEAF’s launch in the Philippines is the latest chapter in our electrification strategy in ASEAN. This is part of Nissan’s DNA of daring to do what others don’t as we make electrified mobility more accessible to the people in the region,” Regional Vice President for Nissan ASEAN Isao Sekiguchi concludes.
But will the price prevent interested car buyers from getting one?
Najima pointed out that the high acquisition cost is partly due to the 30 percent duties levied on the car. Though the NPI chief did not give an actual figure, the price of the LEAF would just be P1.9M without the duties imposed due to the origin of the vehicle. Read related story here.
Najima also said that the running cost is lower as it does not have change oil and filters and its running cost is only about P1.18 per kilometer compared P2.09 per kilometer for a conventional fossil fuel-powered car. The biggest savings will come from the energy that is used to run it.
Nissan estimates that it takes P360 to P380 to charge the Nissan LEAF to travel 311 kilometers before needing a full charge. For a gasoline-powered car, that can do 12 to 14 kilometers per liter, the running cost is P1,244 for 311 kilometers or about P3,000 for a full tank of gas.
The Nissan Managing Director enthused that over “a stretch of time, the running costs of the LEAF will outweigh its initial price. More EV adoption will lower the cost even further.”
Customers can initially avail of the Nissan LEAF from three dealerships which are part of the Gateway Motors Group: Nissan Mantrade Makati, Nissan Otis, and Nissan Cebu South-V. Rama, each equipped with EV charging systems for the exclusive use of LEAF owners. Four more dealerships, Nissan Matina, Tagum, Bonifacio Global City and Manila Bay, all to be similarly equipped with charging facilities, will offer the EV within this year.
