Nissan LEAF EV gets 30kW battery option for extra range

The Nissan LEAF EV is getting the option of a 30kW battery pack on Acenta and Tekna models, which increases the range to an official 156 miles. Costs from £29,490.

The Nissan LEAF was the only really credible electric car until quite recently, but as other car makers start to eat in to the LEAF’s sales – particularly with plug-in hybrids – Nissan is looking to make the LEAF more appealing by giving it greater range for less ‘range anxiety’ issues.

But instead of making the new 30kW battery pack the default, Nissan has instead decided to make it an option – and only on Acenta and Tekna models – costing from £29,490 to £32,950 (less grant) depending on the model you choose.

The new battery brings with it an increase in the official range of the LEAF to 156 miles (less in the real world), and the new battery pack takes up no more room than the standard 24kW pack, although it does weigh 21kg more, and garners its additional power from the addition of Carbon, Nitrogen and Magnesium to the electrodes and a change to the cell layout

Nissan are also increasing the warranty on the new battery pack, so it now gets an eight-year 100,000 mile warranty.

The LEAF 30kW also gets a new NissanConnect EV system which includes a new charging map to show the availability of charging points and a completely revised Nav system and 7″ infotainment touchscreen.

Paul Willcox, Chairman, Nissan Europe, said:

The LEAF, the best-selling EV in the world, just got even better. An up-to 155 miles opens the world of EV to thousands of drivers across Europe who before just weren’t completely confident that an EV would work for them. This extra range will make LEAF ownership an easy first choice, for many, many more drivers.

The new Nissan LEAF 30kW will go on sale in the UK in December 2015.