Increase in Nissan LEAF Range from 73 Miles to 373 Miles Shows Astounding Improvements in Electric Cars

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Final Up to date on: twenty eighth March 2025, 02:24 pm

Nissan slipped out teaser photos of the next-generation Nissan LEAF this week. Shifting into crossover territory, it’s a bit completely different from what has come earlier than, and I’d guess will likely be Nissan’s hottest LEAF ever. However other than the look, one thing highly effective struck me, amping up the information rather more than anything.

Sadly, Nissan didn’t present a lot element on the coming 2026 LEAF. Nonetheless, somebody at Nissan slipped BBC’s Top Gear the important information that we will anticipate 600 km (373 miles) of vary with the brand new LEAF. That’s about 100 miles greater than the present LEAF affords! Nonetheless, past that, the actually spectacular bit is how far electrical car know-how has come prior to now decade-plus.

The primary Nissan LEAF was the 2011 mannequin, and it had 73 miles (117 km) of vary — at a price of $33,600 if Google’s AI analysis is true. (That does sound like what I recall.)

The present Nissan LEAF (not the approaching next-gen crossover) is available in two trims. The primary trim has a rated vary of 149 miles (240 km) and begins at $28,140, whereas the upper trim has a rated vary of 212 miles (341 km) and begins at $36,190. Admittedly, this era of the LEAF is just not significantly aggressive within the EV market.

Pricing for the LEAF has remained fairly steady over time — staying in the identical basic value vary. So, one would anticipate it’s going to stay in that enviornment with the up to date era once more. But when we’re going to 373 miles of vary, have a look at how a lot of an enchancment that’s over 15 years prior! I ponder if Nissan will spotlight the change as a part of a 15-year anniversary of the mannequin.

After all, that’s the type of enchancment in vary for value that we’ve seen throughout the business prior to now 15 years. The great factor in regards to the LEAF is that it was one of many first trendy EVs and was the highest promoting EV for years, so having the ability to evaluate its progress over time is likely one of the cleanest methods to indicate how the tech and business have developed.

As I discussed a few days in the past, The Nissan AriyaNissan’s second absolutely electrical mannequin, has a rated range of 216 to 289 miles and begins round $40,000, with the bottom value of the very best journey beginning round $54,000. That’s not pretty much as good of a range-for-cost ratio because the next-gen LEAF is predicted to get, however the ARIYA is in a better class, a considerably bigger and fancier car. Additionally, for all we all know, the 2026 model of the ARIYA can have improved vary. Although, a key with the LEAF is that its smaller dimension and higher effectivity will assist it get extra out of the batteries.

For anybody who has pushed electrical automobiles for some time, we all know all too properly the 2 questions non-EV homeowners have about electrical automobiles — how far can they drive, and the way lengthy do they take to cost. Most individuals suppose they want way more vary than they do, and most of the people don’t understand that residence EV charging is rather more handy than filling up a gasoline automobile. The opposite factor they don’t know is simply how a lot EV tech has improved prior to now 10–15 years. Answering “373 miles” to that first query should not click on in many individuals’s minds — they might suppose they want 500 or 600 miles of vary (which, after all, they don’t until they’re in a really area of interest phase of the market). However other than attempting to elucidate how a lot you’ll be able to drive with 373 miles within the battery (nearly twice the vary of my 2019 Tesla Mannequin 3), it may be helpful to only make this level to them.

Right here’s what I’d say to somebody asking the standard basic questions on electrical automobile vary and charging time: “It depends on what electric car you get, but the first Nissan LEAF had 73 miles of range and the new one has 373 miles of range! You can now go super far in an electric car before needing to recharge. In fact, the average US driver could recharge just once a week with this car! Of course, it’s so simple just plugging the car in when you get home that it makes more sense to just keep it topped up every day just in case you need to make a sudden urgent drive to the other side of Florida.” Maybe that would offer extra context and understanding than simply offering some numbers they’re not likely ready to assimilate.

What do you suppose? How serendipitous is it that the next-gen LEAF is meant to have 300 miles extra vary than the first-gen one, and the way large of a deal is it? How would you employ this data to assist extra individuals stay a nicer, extra handy EV life?