When Nissan first launched its Leaf electric car six years ago, it was regarded as a novelty and even an aberration. With a typical range of 150km and a relatively low-power 80kW motor, it left car enthusiasts a little underwhelmed, despite its advanced technology. This week, at the launch of the new Leaf model in Tokyo, Nissan bet its future on the one-time curiosity. "The current Nissan Leaf was the electric vehicle pioneer, but the new Nissan Leaf has the real potential to become the core of the company," said Hiroto Saikawa, president and CEO of Nissan, at the launch event on Wednesday. He pointed out that the vehicle embodied the concept of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, "the core brand strategy for Nissan's future". In the time since the original version arrived on the scene, electric vehicles have taken off around the world, making up as much as a third of new-car sales in Norway, with sales accelerating in the US. One factor holding numbers back in many countries, however, is ...
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